As engineers expedite network restorations in the hardest hit areas in the Visayas in support of relief operations and to provide vital communication services, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has restored its mobile network coverage in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the first town where Super Typhoon Yolanda made landfall.

Using an ultra-portable Instant Network setup, Smart and Vodafone engineers were able to restore cellular services yesterday at the town’s center, allowing residents to contact their family and loved ones outside after being isolated for several days.

To directly aid in the communications requirements of humanitarian efforts for immediate relief and rehabilitation, a Multi-Equipment-On-Wheels (MEOW) arrived yesterday and was immediately fired up to cover the airport and seaport areas, allowing not only voice call and text but also data.     

As of November 17, Smart and Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) have restored 85% of their affected networks in the Visayas. Smart and DMPI are now focusing on fast tracking network restoration in the most affected parts especially in Leyte and Eastern Samar.

Working with Vodafone Foundation, Smart was able to quickly deploy Instant Network setups that provided immediate restoration of cellular services in Palo, Leyte and in Borongan, Eastern Samar last week.

Aside from Borongan and Guiuan, the towns of Jipapad, Maslog, and Arteche in Eastern Samar also have network signal restored. Smart Satellite Services are also powering Libreng Tawag stations in Borongan, Dolores, Guiuan and Hernani.

In Leyte, network coverage has already been restored in Albuera, Babatngon, Bato, Calubian, Baybay, Dulag, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Isabel, Kananga, McArthur, Mahaplag, Matag-ob, Matalom, Merida, Ormoc, Palo, Palompon, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tabango, Tacloban, and Villaba.

In Tacloban City alone, Smart has been able to fire up five celllsites that cover the main downtown and airport areas. An Instant Network was fired up in Palo last November 15.  

A MEOW is also serving residents in Ormoc City to augment network coverage in the area. More than just a cellsite-on-wheels, a MEOW has equipment on board to serve higher speed data connectivity for mobile Internet services.

Restored mobile coverage in cities and municipalities is at 100% for Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, Negros Oriental and Southern Leyte, 95% for Northern Samar, 94% for Negros Occidental,  93% for Iloilo,  89% for Aklan, 86% for Samar, 78% for Antique, 71% for Capiz, 56% for Leyte, 38% for Biliran and 24% for Eastern Samar.

In the aftermath of the typhoon, network coverage remained running at 100% in Mindanao and Luzon except for Northern Palawan, but which was also restored fully last week.

Meanwhile, Smart and DMPI through its brand Sun Cellular continue to provide Libreng Tawag free call and text services in areas still heavily affected. Smart Satellite Services are being used in cities and municipalities without cellular coverage. The companies have also beefed up its free call and wifi stations in Mactan Air Base and Villamor Air Base to serve the needs of arrivals from Leyte and Samar. Today, there are 34 Libreng Tawag Stations serving the public.

Libreng Tawag stations are available in the following areas:

1. Antique
   • Culasi
   • Libertad
2. Capiz
   • Roxas City Hall
   • Dao Public Market
   • Mambusao
   • Panit-an
   • Pontevedra
   • President Roxas
3. Cebu
   • Brgy. Tinago Gym, Lapu-Lapu City
   • Mactan Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City
   • Espress Call Office, Bogo
   • San Francisco Municipal Hall, Camotes Island
   • Medellin Public Market, Medellin
   • Hagnaya Port
   • Smart cellsite in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island
   • Sta. Fe port, Bantayan Island
   • Cultural Center, Bantayan Island
   • Madridejos Municipal Hall
4. Eastern Samar
   • Smart cellsite in Poblacion, Borongan
   • Quinopondan Municipal Hall
   • Hernani Municipal Hall
   • Guiuan Airport, Guiuan
   • Viva Commercial Center, Guiuan
   • Immaculate Concepcion Center (across City Hall), Guiuan
   • Dolores Municipal Hall
5. Iloilo
   • Batad
   • Carles
   • Estancia
6. Leyte
   • City Hall, Tacloban City
   • Palo Municipal Hall, Palo, Leyte
   • Palo Learning Center, Palo, Leyte
   • Ormoc City Smart Retail Store
   • Ormoc City Hall
7. NCR
   • Villamor Air Base
8. Palawan   
   • Coron town proper
   • Culion town proper
9. Romblon
   • Odiongan

Due to ongoing power outages in most affected areas, Smart and DMPI continues to offer free mobile phone charging stations:

1. Aklan
   • Smart cellsite in Old Buswang, Kalibo
2. Capiz
   • Roxas City Hall
3. Cebu
   • Smart cellsite in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island
   • Smart cellsite in Madridejos
   • Madridejos Municipal Hall
   • Express Call Office, Bogo
4. Leyte
   • Smart Retail Store in Ormoc City
5. NCR
   • Villamor Air Base

For more information on post-Yolanda network restoration and public service advisories, please visit smart.com.ph/Yolanda.