Connectivity still eludes Chennai

Chennai: Mauled by cyclone Vardah, Chennai, touted as information technology hub, has been suffering Internet connectivity, slow broadband services and pixellated cable TV connections.

For the past three weeks, service providers and telecom operators are finding it difficult to restore the network hit by squalls. State secretariat and Ripon Buildings, housing city civic headquarters, are also facing Internet problems confirmed official sources.

“Most of the buildings located inside secretariat complex have secure WiFi connections and landline internet connections. Post Vardah, there is a problem with signal and speed. For the past two weeks, internet is slow and we depend on pen drives to move documents and corresponding letters from the Namakkal Kavignar Maligai to the main complex of the secretariat,” an official told DC.
City corporation, which also experienced similar problems with internet connections, has ordered new internet dongle for its engineering departments.

“Some of our engineers have to shift between the field and the office and were requesting for cable free internet connections. With the existing internet connections being affected, we are now relying on dongles for our internet requirements,” said a corporation official at Ripon Buildings.

“My flat in Jafferkhanpet had private internet service through optical fibre cable, but after cyclone Vardah both the internet and the cable TV is not working and there is no response from the private service provider, said N.V. Sreenivasa, a resident of Ekkathuthangal. “Internet connectivity is badly hit in Chennai. The signal strength is pathetic in my area and I use both BSNL and aircel service,” said Shalini Surendhar a resident of Vepery.