Key Takeaways:
- We’re building on 30+ years of disaster response experience to restore and maintain connectivity, when it matters most.
- FirstNet®, Built with AT&T covers more first responders than any other network in the country, giving public safety the unthrottled connectivity they need, no matter the emergency.
Storms can disrupt power, networks, and emergency response. And even without any direct U.S. hurricane landfalls last season, our teams remained busy responding to events like winter storms, severe weather, and wildfires. This included some of our more recent work with the devastating Central Texas Floods, and Winter Storm Fern, proving we’re more than ready to keep our customers connected this hurricane season and beyond.
“From our customers to the first responders who rely on FirstNet, we know connectivity isn’t a luxury, it’s essential,” said Corey Anthony, SVP – Engineering & Operations, AT&T. “That’s why our response teams continue sharpening the skills and expertise needed to restore and maintain service.”
Here are the ways we plan to help keep communities connected during hurricane season:
- Leveraging AI to instantly resolve coverage gaps: AT&T’s Geo Modeler simulates changing network conditions and, within seconds, optimizes nearby cell sites to help close coverage gaps in near real time.
- Using advanced weather intelligence: The AT&T Weather Operations Center (AWOC) combines meteorologists and weather modeling to support planning and real-time response for disasters and everyday operations.
- Maintaining extensive recovery resources: Over the past 30+ years, we’ve invested more than $1 billion in our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) program. It is the largest program of its kind in the industry and includes 400+ trained team members with access to 750+ AT&T assets nationwide.
- Supporting first responders with FirstNet: FirstNet®, Built with AT&T gives first responders always-on priority and preemption, and unthrottled connectivity to help them stay connected during emergencies. Led by former first responders and backed by 190+ dedicated FirstNet assets, FirstNet ROG is ready to provide reliable connectivity to first responders. Unlike commercial carriers, which must share their resources among all users, public safety’s dedicated FirstNet assets are reserved exclusively for their use.
- Coordinating with local emergency teams: FirstNet liaisons work in local emergency operations centers to help first responders get the connectivity and devices they need.
- Increasing network capacity: We’re boosting capacity before a major storm makes landfall so customers can continue calling, texting, and using data during high-demand periods.
- Checking backup power sources: Teams test backup batteries and top off generators at cell sites and major network facilities to reduce disruptions if commercial power is lost.
- Pre-positioning extra generators: Additional generators are placed strategically for quick deployment to help restore service faster after a storm has passed.
- Year-round training: Our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team and FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) continuously train to respond when major storms hit. Our disaster response experience helps us restore and maintain service when it matters most.
For more information about our disaster preparedness program and how you can prepare for future events, visit https://about.att.com/pages/disaster-recovery
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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