New assistance to check on family and friends in natural disaster areas
Telstra today announced free fixed-line telephone calls for residential customers wishing to check on friends and family affected by the recent natural disasters in Samoa, Tonga, the Philippines and Italy.
Today's announcement compliments similar assistance offered last week in wake of natural disasters in American Samoa and the Padang area of Indonesia.
From 12.01am on Wednesday 7 October 2009 until 11.59pm onTuesday 13 October 2009, Telstra residential customers calling fixed-lines from their homr fixed-line telephone ull be able to make calls free of charge to the following area codes:
Samoa: 0011 685
Tonga: 0011 676
Manila - The Philippines: 0011 632
Messina - Italy: 0011 39 090
Today's offer of assistance is in addition to the offer Telstra Chief Executive Officer David Thodey announced last week in relation to American Samoa and Padang. From 12.01am on Saturday 3 October 2009 until 11.59pm on Friday 9 October 2009, Telstra residential customers calling fixed-lines from their home fixed-line telephone will be able to call free of charge to the following area codes:
Padang, Indonesia: 0011 6275
American Samoa: 0011 1 684
Mr Thodey said Telstra had a long history of working to assist its customers through traumatic times.
"We are offering free fixed-line telephone calls to help our customers check on friends and relatives affected by the natural disasters in Samoa, Tonga, Manila and Messina. Many of our customers have already taken up a similar offer for American Samoa and Indonesia," he said.
"Calls made to the disaster affected areas during this time will automatically be billed at zero."
Mr Thodey said not all communication lines in these areas were operating, so congestion remained likely.
"We urge customers to remain patient as they may experience connection difficulties. Telstra will continue to monitor the situation."
If by chance, a Telstra customer does find that they have been charged for a call from their residential fixed-line telephone to a fixed-line in these areas during this time, they are encouraged to contact Telstra to have the charges rebated.
Telstra Media Contact
David Luff