If you compare the PSR track (in the recent ATSB document) to the map on this post ...
http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/5...ml#post8364326
It seems pretty clear that someone was aware of the PSR track very quickly after the incident. The "E" box being the area where they lost PSR coverage.
I do wonder what altitude the aircraft was at when it passed Butterworth.