Company rolls out mobile command centers to help restore service when
disaster strikes
TAMPA, Fla., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today announced
an expanded emergency preparedness program for the 2006 hurricane season.
At the heart of this multifaceted program are two new mobile command
centers that can be brought into an affected area quickly, providing full
communications capabilities as well as working and sleeping quarters for
Cingular employees. The objective: Making sure wireless service can be
restored as quickly as possible.
Cingular is investing $1.8 billion this year to enhance and improve its
network coverage in the Southeast, including adding more than 800 new cell
sites. That investment includes more than $60 million for hurricane
preparedness to harden the network with additional generators and to
implement Cingular's enhanced emergency response program.
"Cingular's goal is to be as prepared as possible whenever and wherever
disaster hits; to be able to restore any wireless service outages as
quickly as possible; and to assist with overall relief efforts as much as
we possibly can," said Ralph de la Vega, chief operating officer of
Cingular. "We continue to invest millions of dollars in our networks, our
systems and our emergency response efforts to be better prepared for
hurricanes and other disasters."
This year, Cingular will introduce two new two mobile command centers
called Mobile Access Command Headquarters (MACH 1 and MACH 2) to its
hurricane and disaster relief efforts. These fully-equipped, completely
self-sufficient centers can be rapidly deployed into an affected area where
they can be set up and operating within two hours of arrival. They are
equipped with generators, a satellite dish for constant communications, LAN
connectivity and a PBX phone system. More than 30 technicians can work in
and from MACH 1 and MACH 2. MACH 1 is a 53-foot tractor-trailer that
expands on each side to reveal 1,000 square feet of workspace. MACH 2 is a
38-foot gooseneck trailer that can be transported to more remote locations.
"Nearly 60 years ago, the legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager broke the
sound barrier and achieved Mach 1. Today, Cingular is breaking another kind
of barrier with our MACH 1 and MACH 2 mobile command centers, which will
enable us to respond rapidly to hurricanes and minimize their impact on our
customers," de la Vega said.
Other elements of Cingular's enhanced emergency preparedness program
include:
- Permanent and portable generators. Cingular has added 1,200 permanent
and portable generators, bringing the total to more than 4,500. Cell
sites located in hurricane-affected areas are equipped with these
generators, and can run for up to 36 hours without refueling during
commercial power outages.
- Two emergency communications SUVs. These house military-grade
satellite communications with access to the Internet, multi-channel
voice over IP capability, radio communications and satellite news and
information.
- Cells on Wheels (COWs). These are self-contained mobile cell sites that
can be towed or driven into an area to provide extra call capacity or
to restore communications following a disaster.
- Cells on Light Trucks or (COLTs). These are trucks that can be driven
to a location where a mobile cell site is needed and include two masts
for microwave antennas.
- Mobile Sales Office. This is a mobile store stocked with batteries,
chargers and replacement phones; inventory that first responders need
most in emergency situations.
- A four-person R.V. This can support up to four technicians for several
days who are working to restore service.
- Full hazardous materials capability. This consists of equipment and
training that enables Cingular emergency responders to work on any
hazmat event in partnership with BellSouth's SABER (Service Assurance
Brigade/Emergency Response) team.
- Generators. These will be deployed onto flatbed trailers and then
transported to cell sites, retail stores, switches, offices, call
centers and anywhere else back-up power may be needed.
- Base camp. This includes two sleeping tents with floors, carpet,
showers, bathrooms, and washers and dryers, air conditioning and heat
for more than 80 people. Base camp staff will have access to a full
kitchen and dining facility, and Cingular has already pre-ordered
12,000 ready-to-eat meals. In addition, the camp will be staffed by a
full-time nurse.
All of Cingular's enhanced emergency preparedness equipment, which is
housed near Atlanta, can be deployed in just two to four hours, the company
noted. Atlanta is also the location of the company's regional network
operations center, which monitors and maintains Cingular's network 24/7 and
allows Cingular personnel to assess and begin to act on an emergency
situation within minutes.
Cingular provides updated information on its hurricane preparation and
tips for consumers to stay in touch during and after a storm strikes at
http://www.cingularhurricaneupdates.com/ . High resolution photos are also
available for download on the site.
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States,
serving 55.8 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc.
(NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital
voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network -- and the
largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier.
Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G
network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA
(High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S.
wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R), the wireless plan that lets
customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are
available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases
emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/ .
SOURCE Cingular Wireless
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Related links:
http://www.cingularhurricaneupdates.com
http://www.cingular.com http://cingular.mediaroom.com
CONTACT:
Regional Media, Caroline Crowe, wireless,
+1-404-808-8254, or caroline.crowe@cingular.com, or National
Media, Mark Siegel, office, +1-404-236-6312, or
mark.a.siegel@cingular.com, both of Cingular Wireless
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