Cable and Wireless Reconnects

Cable and Wireless is now predicting faster restoration for those without service. And don't worry if, in the meantime, you don't have a land line or a fax machine - you can still access the Internet and email and fax - the company offers alternate solutions.

So said Chief Executive Tim Adam, who pointed out that since the company has been able to replace its vehicles and equipment (90% were destroyed during Ivan), it has been able to bring aboard help. And progress will move much faster now.

"Vehicles are crucial to us. We could not get out into the field without an equipped truck," said Mr. Adam, "but we are just about to get the last batch of replacement equipment and tools, expected to arrive next week."

In the meantime, Cable and Wireless has been building new exchanges to replace those lost in Ivan and has been at work reconnecting downed lines throughout Grand Cayman. And if you have not seen those familiar C and W trucks in your area that does not mean that work has not been progressing.

"Sometimes we have to do work outside of a particular zone to restore service in another area," explained Albert Anderson, C and W's vice president for Network Services. Sometimes the lines are underground. In that case, those are undamaged and the lines will operate again when repair to the exchange is completed, he added.

Right now, the schedule for restoration is as follows:

North Side and Cayman Kai

completion by 21st Dec.

West Bay

Completion by 5th January.

Seven Mile Beach

A new exchange completed by 20th December, following which 100% exchange capacity will be restored, as opposed to the current 10%. Landlines in some areas of Seven Mile Beach will be readily connected, as the company has been working to restore lines while the exchange is being rebuilt. The balance will be completed by 10th January.

Frank Sound

New exchange turned on Wednesday night (15th Dec). Teams are working on restoring lines and completion is scheduled for 13th January.

East End

(which did not lose its exchange) still has some landline restoration outstanding which is scheduled for completion 23rd February.

Red Bay/Spotts

Teams are completing work in these areas and preparing to move east to

Newlands, Northward and Bodden Town

Which did not lose its exchange. Completion of landline works in this densely populated area (Spotts - Bodden Town) is scheduled for 16th March.

George Town

While the majority of businesses have been restored, completion of restoration of residential areas in George Town is scheduled for 14th March.

These are the scheduled dates for final restoration in the respective areas; however; individual customers will be reconnected in advance of these dates, and there are customers’ lines which are currently working in all areas.

Cable and Wireless has now earmarked March as the date of final restoration of all services disrupted following Ivan. "But most service will be restored well in advance of this final date," said Mr. Adam.

Naming some of the options available for customers currently without land lines, Mr. Adam said that the company has been devising a scheme that enables business customers without a fax line to send and receive faxes using a device that connects the fax machine via the mobile network.

Another solution is laptop PCMCIA cards that work in conjunction with the mobile data network and, viola, you connect to the Internet. This Mobile Web system has a big advantage over normal Internet - it is very inexpensive, though a little slower (equivalent to dial-up speed).

Another solution is a device called "Max." This comes with a keyboard and a screen - and for those who lost their computers during the storm,

"Max is a great entry level device - you connect to your phone line and away you go!" enthused Mr. Adam, adding that customers should come in to a Cable & Wireless store to explore these and other options.