Earthquake: Keep cellphone calls short, or use SMS

Buildings have collapsed in parts of Christchurch. Photo / Danny Knight Bare

Vodafone is advising customers in Christchurch to keep cellphone calls sort, or preferably use SMS messages as it works to keep its network functioning at full strength in the quake-stricken region.

Spokesman Paul Brislen says the network is working at full strength, but that electricity is the biggest threat to service as parts of the region remain without electricity.

"All of our towers are intact, but the biggest problem we've currently got is power," he said.

Vodafone cell sites are currently running on battery power - allowing between three and eight hours of use.

"They're going to start running out in the next few hours," he said.

The company is mobilising generators from as far away as Auckland to try and avoid network problems, and is working closely with local electricity supplier Orion and Civil Defence to ensure that generators arrive where they're going to be most needed.

Ten generators from the Christchurch area already being put in place, with several more from around the South Island being moved to the area.

Six generators are being shipped across the Cook Strait from Wellington.

2degrees chief executive Eric Hertz says only four of its cellsites are down.

"Most sites are now running off emergency power and key sites have additional emergency backup generators supplied by petrol," he said.

Hertz advises customers to take all possible steps to preserve mobile battery life and notes that text messages and voice calls make the least demand on handsets.

- NZ HERALD STAFF