One of the biggest telecommunication companies in Samoa is doing its best to address connectivity issues disrupted by the severe power outages and rationing in Upolu. 

Vodafone Samoa’s Chief Executive Officer, Rana Bose,  in response to queries from the Samoa Observer newspaper, addressed the challenges faced by the telecommunications company as it grapples with the power crisis, outlining how the company is working tirelessly to minimise service disruptions and maintain connectivity during these challenging times.

The power outages, which have led to up to 16 hours of daily power interruptions across Upolu, have had a significant impact on Vodafone Samoa’s network infrastructure. 

According to Mr Bose, over 40 mobile towers across the island have been affected daily by the power rationing.

"Typically, we are witnessing 16 hours of power outage daily impacting over 40 mobile towers across Upolu during rationing," Bose stated. 

"Our network infrastructure was not designed for this catastrophe. We do have generators in a large number of mobile towers, but not all. There is a battery backup in most towers, but the battery is not equipped for 10 hours of non-stop power outage."

To address this unprecedented crisis, Vodafone Samoa has assembled a dedicated crisis management team. Bose highlighted that the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction is guiding its efforts. 

"Extraordinary times require extraordinary efforts. One of the core values of Vodafone Samoa is 'Customer Obsessed,' and our team is stepping up to live up to our values."

The company has been proactive in mitigating the disruption by taking several strategic measures. 

Bose explained that Vodafone Samoa has mapped out all its mobile towers in Upolu to assess which ones are most vulnerable to power outages. Based on this mapping, portable generators are being rotated across the various towers, particularly in areas most affected by the power cuts.

"Since the planned power outages happen twice a day and we have a limited number of portable generators, our team is rotating these generators based on the feeder locations. We brought in additional portable generators from Savaii to Upolu since most power rationing is happening in Upolu," Bose shared.

Despite these efforts, the ongoing challenge of refuelling generators and keeping towers operational remains a heavy burden. 

"Our teams start connecting sites at sunrise every day, including weekends, as the outages start at 6 am and continue till midnight. These generators also need continuous refuelling, and our team is at the sites refuelling to ensure continuous power," Bose said.

Bose also expressed admiration for the resilience of Vodafone Samoa’s technical team, who have been working outdoors in difficult conditions to restore and maintain service. 

"I am personally impressed by the dedication of our technical team engineers who are spending most of their time outdoors braving the elements of mother nature and powering up the impacted mobile towers to keep Samoa connected," he remarked.

Looking ahead, the company has plans to strengthen its infrastructure and improve its ability to weather similar challenges in the future. While immediate concerns include the rising costs of fuel to keep mobile towers powered, Vodafone Samoa is also exploring long-term solutions.

"In the short term, there is a heavy cost of fuel to run mobile towers on generators for 16 hours a day. This is impacting our operational expenses, but we are determined to provide connectivity," Bose explained. 

"We are exploring options to expand our investment in backup power systems and upgrading our network with more energy-efficient equipment. We have already installed solar power at Monono Island mobile tower as a pilot and are observing its performance."

The company has also ordered additional generators, but these are expected to take 2-3 months to arrive via sea freight. 

Meanwhile, Vodafone Samoa is investing in network expansion, with plans to roll out 14 new towers, including a 5G tower in Savaii. 

"The Savaii 5G site is ready and awaiting EPC to connect power to the site," Bose added.

However, Bose acknowledged that investing in power backup systems could impact future network expansion. 

"The investment in power backup may also reduce our ability to expand the network in additional new areas to improve coverage in the future. It's a balancing act between increasing coverage and investing in power backup," he said. 

"Unlike other businesses that operate for limited hours, telecom infrastructure requires power 24x7. Reliable and affordable power is the backbone of our service."