Due to the Earthquake in Taiwan on 26 December 2006, Hong Kong's overseas telecommunications services had been severely affected by the damage of several regional submarine cables, hindering the services provided by all Hong Kong's Internet Service Providers.

Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd. ("HKBN"), a wholly owned subsidy of City Telecom (HK) Limited , with rapid response from staff and business partners, was one of the first service providers to restore overseas telecommunications service by 11:42 am, 28th December, 2006.

HKBN's rapid restoration was due mainly to the rigorous design of the HKBN network that ensured there are always 30% over-provisioning of bandwidth, equivalent to a 1.3 times bandwidth capacity over the average bandwidth utilization for customers. Although the recent disruption has lowered HKBN's bandwidth provisioning, this over-provisioning design had come into force thereby minimizing the impact to customers.

Whilst HKBN customers were able to resume their essential Internet services within two days, the majority of Hong Kong Internet users are still negatively impacted, even until today. This highlights the deficiency in the industry's existing telecommunication services' arrangements & contingency planning.

Appreciating the importance of communications, HKBN announced the launch of "bbAid" to those are who are still suffering from overseas bandwidth outage, providing immediate broadband service aid. Effective from 8th January 2007, PCCW Netvigator's broadband customers can register at hotline 3498 3498, where HKBN will install bb100 service (symmetric 100Mbps access) within 24 hours, with up to 200 installations daily. The "bbAid" is offered to provide immediate outbound communication services to those with urgent needs, with no contract commitment and installation fee required, and services charge being HK$10/day (US$1.30), with minimal charge is HK$20 (US$2.60). Should no contract renewal or cancellation notice be received from customer within 30 days after installation, such service will be terminated automatically after the said period.

Chairman of HKBN, Ricky Wong said, "As the pioneer of Hong Kong's telecommunication services, valuing the criticality of overseas telecommunications, we hope the bbAid will serve to relief the stress and inconvenience for consumers that are suffering from outage of international bandwidth."