The destructive force of rodents left a western NSW community without mobile phone coverage at the weekend and the telco that fixed the fault is now keeping watch for further problems.
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The pests chewed through a number of cables at Gilgandra impacting 3G and 4G services in and around the town at the weekend, Telstra has confirmed.
Technicians fixed the fault and restored coverage by early Monday afternoon, and Telstra apologised to those impacted.
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Telecommunications is the latest sector to suffer a hit because of the explosion in mice numbers, which has already ruined some summer crops and stored hay and seen silos, sheds, homes and businesses invaded across a large part of western NSW since the spring.
Telstra NSW regional general manager Mike Marom said there was an issue impacting Telstra mobile coverage in and around Gilgandra at the weekend, but the company's fixed line and nbn internet services were unaffected.
"The issue was related to damage to a transmission cable within the Telstra exchange in Wamboin Street," he said.
"The cause of the damage was rodents chewing on a number of cables."
Mr Marom said 3G and 4G mobile coverage was restored to Gilgandra about 1.30pm on Monday.
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"While not common, damage to telecommunications cables by rodents does happen occasionally and are more common in times of plague," he said.
"Telstra technicians will monitor the site over coming weeks to ensure it continues to operate as it should.
"Telstra apologises for those impacted during this time."
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
