Telecom starts XT help webpage

Telecom has created a new section on its website to keep people updated on its troubled XT network after a series of outages.

The Inside XT section, www.telecom.co.nz/insidext, has information on the XT network upgrade and an independent review of the network.

The new network, launched last May, experienced four separate faults on December 14, January 27, February 17 and February 22, disrupting service to customers south of Taupo for periods from hours to three days.

Telecom put its XT contractor Alcatel-Lucent on notice and forked out $10 million in compensation after the fourth network failure.

Telecom spokesman Mark Watts said the Inside XT section of the site put all the information on the network's outages and upgrades in one place, making it easier to find information.

The website said Telecom was improving coverage and capacity on the XT network, as well as increasing the number of radio network controllers (RNCs), which controlled network traffic, from two to four.

In an episode of 60 Minutes screened last night, Telecom chief executive Paul Reynolds said the outages may have been less widespread if Telecom had had more RNCs, the National Business Review reported.

Telecom now had four RNCs, with two each in Christchurch and Auckland, compared to six owned by Vodafone.

The Inside XT section also had information on Analysys Mason Group, which was conducting an independent review of the XT network.

The Inside XT section would be updated "as any new or relevant information comes to hand", Mr Watts said.

- NZPA