TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Important Gulf Coast Update from T-Mobile

Important Gulf Coast Update from T-Mobile

Monty Solomon (monty@roscom.com)
Fri, 2 Sep 2005 02:00:28 -0400

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 2005--T-Mobile USA today
issued an update on its efforts to restore its wireless network in the
north Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Following is updated information from T-Mobile as of Sept. 2:

-- More than 80 percent of T-Mobile market coverage is now
operational in the Mobile, Ala. area.

-- More than 40 percent of T-Mobile market coverage is now
operational in the Hattiesburg, Miss. and Mississippi Gulf
Coast areas.

-- Fifty percent of T-Mobile wireless coverage is now operational
in the greater New Orleans area. Downtown New Orleans is still
experiencing limited service, although T-Mobile crews are
making progress in their efforts to restore service as
emergency personnel allow access to some of the hardest hit
areas.

-- T-Mobile has mobilized resources from across the country to
support the recovery efforts. Specifically, T-Mobile offices
in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston have sent significant numbers
of engineers and technicians to conduct onsite recovery
efforts.

-- T-Mobile is employing several hundred generators and dozens of
cells-on-wheels (COWs); and has access to enough fuel to keep
the generators powering cell sites up and running, and to
bring new sites online.

T-Mobile personnel on the north Gulf Coast rode out the storm at its
switching facility in New Orleans in an effort to keep its network
functioning at the highest service levels possible. Additional
engineers were on the ground within hours in the hardest-hit areas to
begin the process of restoring wireless service to residents and
public safety agencies throughout the affected areas.

Historical Data:

-- The T-Mobile New Orleans Switching facility, which serves New
Orleans and Baton Rouge, remained operational throughout
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

-- In order to keep the switch operational following the storm,
T-Mobile immediately began airlifting supplies, technicians
and diesel fuel into the facility to keep the switch supplied
with generator power (Editor's Note: video footage available
to the media upon request). This would not have been possible
without the exceptional aid of local law enforcement agencies,
which have been instrumental in assisting T-Mobile in keeping
this vital communications link operational.

-- On 8/29, T-Mobile processed 600,000 wireless calls into
and out of New Orleans

-- On 8/30, T-Mobile processed 1.1 million wireless calls
into and out of New Orleans

-- On 8/31, T-Mobile processed 1.4 million wireless calls
into and out of New Orleans

-- The T-Mobile switches which serve Alabama and Mississippi
also remained in operation throughout Hurricane Katrina
despite the fact that the switch buildings sustained heavy
damage due to rain and wind.

- http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=51538253

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