More help for flood-affected businesses

Brisbane-based telco Comscentre is offering Queensland and Victorian businesses help to restore communication services damaged or wiped out by the floods.

The company’s head office in the flood-ravaged inner-city suburb of Milton stayed dry but suffered a prolonged power outage which forced it to enable its disaster management plan to keep more than 20,000 network devices operational.

Managing Director Ben Shipley said up to a dozen Queensland customers were affected by the floods, including three whose systems had been devastated.

“A key concern for these and many other Queensland and now Victorian businesses will be the restoration of phone and communications services, enabling them to again commence taking orders and bookings while plant and equipment repairs and replacements continue,” Shipley said.

“As a Queensland-based company which was also impacted by the flooding and with an office in Victoria, Comscentre is offering flood-affected businesses in both states the supply and installation of telephone and data network equipment, fully financed with zero repayments for a period of six months. This will hopefully enable these businesses to restore their services as soon as possible without the immediate concern of ongoing business overheads.

“Comscentre will also prioritise and fast-track any quoting and installation services to flood-affected businesses, as well as repairs for existing customers.”

In addition, for each new flood-impacted customer, Comscentre will make a donation equivalent to their first month’s services billings to the Queensland and Victorian flood appeals.

Comscentre enacted a full disaster recovery plan during the Brisbane flood crisis, which included switching its primary support centre and network operation centre to its secondary support site. Three generators were initially able to keep the business running after power was cut.

“At one point we felt very much like an ‘island in a sea of water’ and our thoughts go out to all businesses who have commenced the heartbreaking task of cleaning and damage assessment,” Shipley said.