Bellevue, Washington — January 25, 2015.
With Winter Storm Juno bearing down on the Northeast, T-Mobile’s operations and engineering teams are already preparing.
The company’s National Engineering Response and Crisis Management teams continuously monitor weather patterns and potential storms. T-Mobile has established an engineering Command Center near the expected area of impact, creating a home base for engineers and rapid response teams, and a staging area for equipment and supplies that may be needed in the storm’s aftermath. As soon as it is safe during and/or after the storm, T-Mobile technicians and engineers will be mobilized.
All T-Mobile stores that are open during and after the storm will provide charging stations for consumers, regardless of their carrier affiliation, to help everyone remain connected with friends and family.
The company has taken the following steps, among others, to prepare for this storm:
- Backup generators and fuel tanks for regional network operations have been put in place and tested, and fuel is topped off for all generators in the potential path of the storm.
- To further supplement these generators, T-Mobile is ready to transport even more portable generators to impacted areas in the storm’s aftermath.
- In the event of widespread power outages, T-Mobile has access to additional fuel to supply generators and company repair and transport vehicles, and for other emergency circumstances.
- Microwave radio equipment is readied to be trucked into affected areas to facilitate backhaul or data communication from the cell sites to T-Mobile's network switches, as backup, in the event that fixed-line service fails.
- The company also coordinates closely with the recovery efforts of local, state and federal agencies. T-Mobile pre-stages cell sites on wheels (COWs) in neighboring areas which can be moved in to provide additional wireless capacity in the hardest-hit areas.
Tips for consumers:
While networks can experience congestion during these high-volume periods, we recommend the following:
- Utilize text messaging to communicate instead of voice calls. Text messaging will work more consistently during high-usage periods versus voice calls.
- Keep your voice calls short in duration. There’s a good chance that after a natural disaster, there’s a significant increase in voice calls, on any carrier’s network. You can help by keeping your talk time to a minimum and using text messaging instead, whenever possible. Limiting voice calls also conserves your battery.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged and you have alternative charging solutions. Consider obtaining a vehicle charger in the event of power loss. T-Mobile also often sets up free mobile charging stations in retail stores and other community centers if commercial power has been affected. You should also have an alternative plan to recharge your battery in case of a power outage, such as using your car charger or having extra mobile phone batteries available. You can also consider purchasing a portable battery pack and have it charged ahead of time so that you will have a back-up source of power for your phone.
- Familiarize yourself with Wi-Fi Calling functionality, a unique feature that allows T-Mobile customers with capable devices to make and receive calls via Wi-Fi, which can come in handy if the T-Mobile network experiences service delays or disruptions. Learn about T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1680
- Stay informed with the latest storm forecasts from NOAA's National Weather Service at weather.gov and hurricanes.gov.
For T-Mobile Customer Care assistance, please visit http://my.t-mobile.com, call 611 from your T-Mobile handset or dial 1-800-937-8997.
About T-Mobile US, Inc.
As America's Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company's advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to approximately 55 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. For more information, please visit https://www.t-mobile.com.
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