Fed: Phone systems Y2K ready but could be clogged

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-1999
Fed: Phone systems Y2K ready but could be clogged

Telecommunications bodies say high demand - not the Y2K bug - could clog Australian
phone systems around midnight on December 31.

The Australian Communications Authority and the Australian Communications Industry
Forum says bottlenecks could block emergency calls to police, fire or ambulance services.

The Forums chief executive JOHANNA PLANTE says network congestion occurs if too many
people try using phones at the same time in a given area.

Network congestion was not unique to the year 2000 and frequently affected mobile phone
networks on New Year's Eve in holiday resorts when populations increased considerably.

But the Authority and the Forum says the industry's ready for 2000 with carriers' testing
for Y2K readiness complete.

The Authority is monitoring industry compliance and will soon release its fourth report
on Y2K readiness of major carriers and carriage service providers.

It will also cover the readiness of Internet service providers, customer equipment
manufacturers and emergency services organisations.

Authority chairman TONY SHAW says he's confident the industry will successfully achieve
the transition from 1999 to 2000.

AAP RTV fh/mfh/as/jn

KEYWORD: Y2K PHONES (CANBERRA)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.