Year Round Network Preparations
Year-round, Verizon Wireless undertakes significant preparations and investments that have kept its nationwide wireless network strong, even through the destructive storms of past years, while other communication networks often were adversely impacted.
The Verizon Wireless network is built for reliability in emergencies, with battery back-up power at all facilities and for additional reliability, generators installed at all switching facilities, and many cell site locations. The company also owns a fleet of portable generators that can be deployed when needed to provide emergency power during extended power outages to those cell sites without permanent generators.
Verizon Wireless also maintains a fleet of mobile generators and Cells on Wheels (COWs) and Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs) - self-powered call transmitters that can be rolled into hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity to provide additional service. The company's fleet of portable generators are kept fueled and placed on standby in areas prone to sudden natural disasters, and fuel supplies are secured in advance of storms to assist in keeping generators running.
In addition, the Verizon Wireless team of real-life test men and women, backed by the company’s Network Operations team, test and retest the network’s performance and durability all year round.
Results of Verizon Wireless' Network Commitment
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Verizon Wireless drive tests found the company's network averaged an impressive 90% call completion rate in impacted areas after the storm, compared to rates of 79% and lower among competitors.
In 2004, within the first days after Florida’s Hurricane Frances, Verizon Wireless' call completion rate was 96% along the Florida Turnpike and I-95 in Palm Beach, Saint Martin, Saint Lucie and Indian River Counties, compared to other carriers with call completion rates at 84% and lower.
Ready to Serve Customers in Times of Emergencies
In addition to the company's network readiness, Verizon Wireless is also prepared to set up Wireless Emergency Communications Centers in critical areas. During past natural disasters, Verizon Wireless has established these centers in devastated communities to provide customers of Verizon Wireless and others access to wireless phones for free local and long distance calls, as well as a place to charge batteries and receive expert help from Verizon Wireless technicians to repair phones or troubleshoot technical phone problems on the spot.
- More than 10 Wireless Emergency Communications Centers were set up soon after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 providing thousands of free calls to residents in the affected areas.
- During that time, thousands turned to Verizon Wireless, which distributed wireless phones to disaster relief agencies and other community groups and provided free calling and other emergency services to customers and others at its Wireless Emergency Calling Centers.
- Verizon Wireless has a new customer service center on wheels ready to roll. The 35-foot trailer will allow Verizon Wireless to maintain customer service operations in areas when company stores are not able to open or when wireless customer service is needed in areas where natural disaster strikes, enabling customers to receive service in person from Verizon Wireless personnel when and where they need it most. The mobile center debuted in May at the 21st Annual Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference in Ft. Lauderdale.
