A statement from the company has been released outlining its technical efforts to restore services since last Thursday’s fire that partially destroyed the Warrnambool exchange and impacted customer landline, broadband, mobile and radio services across the region.  

Telstra says mobile coverage has now been largely restored across the region, with 35 of 41 base stations back online. 

The latest areas to receive restored coverage are Panmure, Portland, Alcoa, Tyrendarra, West Warrnambool and Mt Eckersley.

Technicians have reconnected 57 per cent of landline customers including the entire townships of Portland, Edenhope, Poolaijelo, Mortlake, Derrinullum, Cobden and Mirranatwa. 

Following complaints that Portland customers are having difficulty making calls, Telstra is also  seeking to increase capacity in the area, in addition to the restoration of nearby townships yesterday.

About half the Telstra services in Hamilton have been restored as a team of more than 50 technicians is on site carrying out repairs, working across two 12-hour shifts to get services restored as quickly as possible.

Efforts to restore all services in the region are ongoing and today technicians are focusing on re-establishing transmission links in the exchange. 

Telstra chief operations officer Brendon Riley yesterday said mobile signals in most areas should be at full strength by Friday, while EFTPOS links and basic telephone lines should be restored by the end of the working week.

However, it could be several days before ADSL internet service returns to normal across the region.