T-Mobile USA, Inc. today issued an initial network
assessment and information on its recovery efforts in coastal Texas
and Louisiana following Hurricane Rita's landfall Saturday.
Following is updated information from T-Mobile as of September 25 at 4:00 p.m. CDT:
-- More than 80 percent of T-Mobile's cell sites in the areas of Texas and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Rita are operational.
-- T-Mobile's Disaster Response Team has been deployed to areas hardest hit by Hurricane Rita, which includes Galveston and Beaumont, Texas and Lake Charles, LA, to conduct onsite recovery efforts. The team is deploying dozens of generators to the area to restore service to cell sites that lost commercial power.
-- T-Mobile's core network in Texas and Louisiana remained operational during the storm Saturday. T-Mobile's network switch in Houston -- key to enabling service in the area -- was maintained during the storm via onsite generator power and is now being served by commercial power. The wireless carrier's network switch in New Orleans continues to remain operational and is also served by commercial power.
-- T-Mobile expects heavy call volume and some call congestion along the I-45 corridor Sunday and Monday due to high demand for service as evacuees make their way back in to Houston and coastal areas. In an effort to increase network capacity, T-Mobile is deploying several Cells-On-Wheels (COWs) along the Interstate to support wireless communications.
-- In order to better facilitate communication between families and loved ones and to alleviate network congestion, T-Mobile recommends customers utilize text messaging instead of voice calls to communicate. Text messages have a greater success rate in getting through the network during high-usage periods.
-- As announced Saturday, T-Mobile HotSpot is offering free Wi-Fi Internet service(1) at many of its nearly 550 locations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, which have not been forced to close due to the storm. There will be no charge for T-Mobile HotSpot service at these locations at least through the end of the day on Sunday, September 25. The situation will be re-evaluated at that time to determine if the free service will continue. This free offer for the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama is for Wi-Fi service only, not T-Mobile voice services.
-- T-Mobile is tracking progress of the tropical depression as it moves inland, and will continue to provide support in those areas affected by severe weather.
(1) All users should visit www.t-mobile.com/hotspot to view T-Mobile HotSpot terms and conditions and security policy. Service requires a Wi-Fi enabled laptop computer or PDA.
About T-Mobile USA Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is a member of the T-Mobile International group, the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE:DT). T-Mobile USA's GSM/GPRS voice and data networks in the United States (including roaming and other agreements) reach more than 260 million people. In addition, T-Mobile operates the largest carrier grade, commercial wireless broadband network in the United States, providing Wi-Fi at more than 6,000 public locations throughout the country, and makes available access at over 20,000 international roaming locations. Through its Get More(R) promise, T-Mobile provides customers with more minutes, more features and more service. For more information, visit the company Web site at www.t-mobile.com. T-Mobile(R) and Get More(R) are federally registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG and T-Mobile USA Inc., respectively.
Following is updated information from T-Mobile as of September 25 at 4:00 p.m. CDT:
-- More than 80 percent of T-Mobile's cell sites in the areas of Texas and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Rita are operational.
-- T-Mobile's Disaster Response Team has been deployed to areas hardest hit by Hurricane Rita, which includes Galveston and Beaumont, Texas and Lake Charles, LA, to conduct onsite recovery efforts. The team is deploying dozens of generators to the area to restore service to cell sites that lost commercial power.
-- T-Mobile's core network in Texas and Louisiana remained operational during the storm Saturday. T-Mobile's network switch in Houston -- key to enabling service in the area -- was maintained during the storm via onsite generator power and is now being served by commercial power. The wireless carrier's network switch in New Orleans continues to remain operational and is also served by commercial power.
-- T-Mobile expects heavy call volume and some call congestion along the I-45 corridor Sunday and Monday due to high demand for service as evacuees make their way back in to Houston and coastal areas. In an effort to increase network capacity, T-Mobile is deploying several Cells-On-Wheels (COWs) along the Interstate to support wireless communications.
-- In order to better facilitate communication between families and loved ones and to alleviate network congestion, T-Mobile recommends customers utilize text messaging instead of voice calls to communicate. Text messages have a greater success rate in getting through the network during high-usage periods.
-- As announced Saturday, T-Mobile HotSpot is offering free Wi-Fi Internet service(1) at many of its nearly 550 locations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, which have not been forced to close due to the storm. There will be no charge for T-Mobile HotSpot service at these locations at least through the end of the day on Sunday, September 25. The situation will be re-evaluated at that time to determine if the free service will continue. This free offer for the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama is for Wi-Fi service only, not T-Mobile voice services.
-- T-Mobile is tracking progress of the tropical depression as it moves inland, and will continue to provide support in those areas affected by severe weather.
(1) All users should visit www.t-mobile.com/hotspot to view T-Mobile HotSpot terms and conditions and security policy. Service requires a Wi-Fi enabled laptop computer or PDA.
About T-Mobile USA Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is a member of the T-Mobile International group, the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE:DT). T-Mobile USA's GSM/GPRS voice and data networks in the United States (including roaming and other agreements) reach more than 260 million people. In addition, T-Mobile operates the largest carrier grade, commercial wireless broadband network in the United States, providing Wi-Fi at more than 6,000 public locations throughout the country, and makes available access at over 20,000 international roaming locations. Through its Get More(R) promise, T-Mobile provides customers with more minutes, more features and more service. For more information, visit the company Web site at www.t-mobile.com. T-Mobile(R) and Get More(R) are federally registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG and T-Mobile USA Inc., respectively.
© 2005 Business Wire
