Friday, December 8, 2017

AT&T Boosts Cell Coverage In Thomas Fire Areas, Offers Unlimited Data, Text

AT&T says it has deployed two portable cell phone sites in the affected area of the Thomas Fire, one at Thomas Aquinas College and another on Johnson Road, as part of its response to the wildfires. The company also said that wireless customers in the affected areas will get credits for unlimited data and text from December 7th until December 11th. AT&T said its portable cell phone "Satellite COLTs" were deployed to augment coverage in the area of the fires, and its network is now operating at more than 99% of normal. AT&T's Satellite COLTs (cell on light trucks) use a satellite uplink to keep communications available after disasters. A number of the cell phone communications towers in the area of the Thomas Fire were cut off as a result of lost power lines and/or fire. AT&T also says it has activated a text campaign to benefit the American Red Cross to support relief efforts: customers can text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross. Customers affected by the Thomas Fire, Rye Fire, and Creek Fire, in La Canada, Flintridge, Oak View, Ojai, Santa Paula, Sylmar, Sunland, Tujunga and Ventura, and eligible for the unlimited data and text offer from AT&T. Verizon is also offering up similar data and text relief for their customers. Photo: AT&T Colt (cell on light truck) being deployed to boost cell phone coverage.