Efforts to rectify air-pressure deficiencies in cables in Telstra’s New South Wales network cost the company a fortune in the month of September alone, the Senate Inquiry into the Australian telecommunications network heard today.
Positive air pressure in the main cables protects them by preventing water leaching in, and this is essential to maintain the integrity of the telecommunications network.
The Shadow Minister for Information Technology, Senator Kate Lundy, referred to a Telstra document made public by the Committee today which indicated that across 404 locations in New South Wales, 3,122 compressed-air bottles were required to boost inadequate air pressure in Telstra’s leaky cables.
“This is an ongoing cost. Some bottles need to be changed every day, and that means each month, Telstra is spending a huge amount on human resources to maintain adequate pressure to cables in its telecommunications network. And this is just in New South Wales,” Senator Lundy said.
“Last week CEPU officials alleged that the Sydney network ‘is on the verge of collapse’ because of these problems, indicating that a downpour could cause extensive faults in these leaky cables – faults that could be prevented,” Senator Lundy concluded.
Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
