In November I had the opportunity to spend the day at T-Mobile headquarters in Bellevue, Washington to learn all about the company’s emergency management efforts for CNET. You probably think of cell phone plans and maybe home Internet access when you think of T-Mobile, but they (and AT&T and Verizon) have entire teams and massive resources devoted to dealing with emergencies.
Think hurricanes, floods, wildfires. When a natural disaster rolls through an area, it often takes down cell towers and other infrastructure. The carriers then need to get the network running again as soon as possible—and because they’re charging into active emergency areas, they also provide portable generators, charging stations, and essential supplies to help the people impacted. It’s a massive undertaking.
What I learned was enlightening. I visited the Business Operations Center where everything is directed, rode in a SatCOLT (satellite cell on light truck) that can create a portable 5G network that covers several miles, and saw a drone in action that can stay parked in the air for 24 hours at a time, also creating a temporary cellular network. And I spoke to emergency management professionals who keep a go-bag ready at all times and who are genuinely drawn to this work because it helps communities when they need it most.
I wrote about the experience and the technology at CNET in two articles: a long piece that goes into detail about all the gear and the people who use it, and a shorter followup asking them, “What keeps you up at night?“
Jeff Carlson | Never Enough Coffee Creations 