NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / June 5, 2025 / T-Mobile International AG
By T-Mobile Stories
T-Mobile's community response team with a resident at a safe checkpoint during the 2023 Maui wildfires.
When natural disasters strike, staying connected can be lifesaving. Subject matter experts on T-Mobile's emergency response teams explain how the company has stepped up its network to think, adapt and respond in real time, in real emergencies they have seen first-hand, when everything is on the line.?
During an emergency, connectivity can mean the difference between safety and silence. And no one knows that better than T-Mobile's emergency response teams, who've seen firsthand how critical it is to stay connected.
"There is no better feeling in the world than when you're in the field and someone hugs you and says, 'You're here!'" says Becky Romero, Senior Manager, T-Mobile's Enterprise Business Continuity team. "It's very emotional for our teams when we get to show what the Magenta mission looks like."
That's why the Un-carrier built a modern and intelligent network designed to evolve - one that doesn't just bounce back from disaster but actively adapts in real time to keep people connected. From self-healing infrastructure powered by AI and real-time data to satellite connectivity and prioritized 5G for first responders, T-Mobile is redefining what it means to be ready.
"We don't prepare for just one storm, we prepare for the entire season," adds Joseph Urban, Senior Director, T-Mobile's Engineering and Operations. "Our teams, systems and equipment stay fully ready to respond."
At the time of our interview, Urban was actively leading a staging exercise to ensure crews were rested, resourced and ready for the next potential impact. Behind every one of those crews is a network designed to be just as agile.
Here is the technology these experts say ensures T-Mobile's network doesn't just recover in a crisis, but helps communities recover too.
Self-Organizing Network (SON): A Smart, Self-Healing System Built for Immediate Response
During an emergency, speed matters and so does smart infrastructure. That's where T-Mobile's Self-Organizing Network (SON) comes in. Powered by predictive data modeling and real-time AI, SON acts like a 24/7 brain for the network, constantly scanning for issues and responding on the fly.
"It's one of the most exciting evolutions I've seen in our emergency response," says Nicole Hudnet, Emergency Response Team (ERT) Advisor, T-Mobile Business Group. "During a tornado response in Texas, we were able to tilt antennas on a nearby tower remotely to improve connectivity and help first responders - no one had to be physically sent out, freeing them to respond to even more critical needs."
SON uses AI, machine learning and automation to reroute signals, dynamically shift antenna angles, optimize power usage and prevent congestion - all in real time. It's like GPS for cell signals, constantly recalculating the best path to keep coverage strong, even when parts of the network are down.
"If you think of the spectrum and capacity that we have here at T-Mobile, especially with 5G, it's perfect for the demands of technologies like AI," Hudnet says. "AI depends on vast data collection and rapid decision-making, and our network is built for it."
And when the power is out? SON keeps working smarter.
"We leverage advanced technologies, including AI, to optimize power usage at our cell sites - helping to extend battery life and maintain connectivity when it matters most," says Urban.
If a site is running on a smaller generator or backup battery, SON can automatically scale down non-critical usage and stretch that power to last longer - keeping people connected for as long as possible. SON's capabilities have already made a major impact. During Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the system executed over 5,000 automated adjustments and more than 121,000 antenna tilts to expand coverage in real time. And during the recent Southern California wildfires, it performed over 12,000 more, reinforcing signals near critical infrastructure and rescue zones.
"We can now see in real time how many customers are impacted in a given area and focus our recovery efforts exactly where they're needed," says Rocky Leavitt, Senior Manager, T-Mobile's Field Technology Engineering Operations.
T-Satellite with Starlink: Staying Connected Even When Towers Go Down
When traditional cell service is not available, staying connected can feel impossible. That's why T-Mobile has introduced T-Satellite, America's first and only "direct connect" satellite service that's changing the game for emergency response.
Available to anyone enrolled in the beta program (even Verizon and AT&T customers), T-Satellite lets users send texts to 911 and SMS to loved ones with no setup, apps or extra hardware required on most modern smartphones. And anybody with a compatible device can receive wireless emergency alerts when traditional service is out of reach.
Between the hurricanes and wildfires, T-Satellite helped deliver over 500,000 critical messages that wouldn't have gone through otherwise.
"It's 500,000 messages," reflects Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile's Consumer Group, "maybe to simply say 'I'm OK' to friends and family, or to plea for emergency relief in a life-or-death situation."
Leading the Future of Emergency Communication
T-Priority is a cutting-edge 5G solution designed to transform frontline connectivity. It features a dedicated 5G network slice that directs network traffic to ensure first responder agencies get our best possible experience with up to five times the resources of the average user. And in rare times of extreme congestion, it can dynamically dedicate more capacity to first responders.
During the California fires in January, the Un-carrier provided T-Priority to more than 350 Los Angeles Fire Department members to maintain mission-critical connectivity.
The company is also helping modernize 911 systems nationwide through Next Generation 911 (NG911), which replaces slower, outdated voice systems with IP-based tech that can transmit voice, text, and real-time location data directly to call centers.
T-Mobile is already routing over half of its 911 traffic through NG911, and 87% of call centers on its network now support Text-to-911 - giving people more ways to get help, especially when speaking isn't possible or safe.
Connecting Communities in Crisis
T-Mobile's disaster teams deploy assets to fill gaps where coverage is impacted by commercial power outages and damaged infrastructure, including emergency vehicles, mobile command centers, charging stations, Wi-Fi trailers and routers. Their work has helped small businesses run transactions and payroll, powered local grocery stores, kept hospitals and temporary medical tents connected to access patient records and supported recovery centers with connectivity and essential equipment during emergencies.
During Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the Southern California fires, T-Mobile's teams visited more than 75 Red Cross shelters and other points of distribution, where they provided free Wi-Fi to approximately 21,000 people, regardless of carrier, who used a total of 12TB of data. Teams have also handed out more than 15,000 power packs with device charging equipment and other supplies.
Dataminr: Preparedness Starts with Visibility and Innovation
T-Mobile has integrated Dataminr's AI-driven alert system into its Everbridge Visual Command Center, enhancing teams' early visibility into threats like wildfires, severe weather and infrastructure risks.
By scanning public data - from sensors to social media - Dataminr delivers real-time alerts that help T-Mobile respond faster.
"This kind of early intelligence is a game-changer," says Urban. "It lets us act quickly and adapt as conditions change."
Early detection means faster decisions - and better outcomes when lives and livelihoods are at stake.
A Stronger, Smarter Network
T-Mobile's resilient network relies on backhaul - the critical link between cell towers and the internet. To keep service running during disasters, the company uses a multilayered system: fiber, microwave and satellite connections. If one fails, the others step in.
"We've used these tools for years, but today's satellite tech is faster, smarter and far more capable," says Stacy Tindell, Senior Director, T-Mobile's Network Engineering and Operations.
This multilayered approach means fewer interruptions, faster recovery and a network that can flex and adapt even under extreme pressure. This is more than just innovation. It's transformation - designed to protect the people who rely on it most.
T-Mobile is committed to strengthening its network and support systems to meet the growing challenges of extreme weather and natural disasters. Learn more at T-Mobile.com/news/emergency-response.
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SOURCE: T-Mobile International AG
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:
https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/telecommunications/built-tough-how-t-mobiles-smart-network-stays-strong-in-disasters-1036167
