WATERTOWN — Three major wireless network operators do not expect major problems with cell phone coverage when thousands of people travel here for the April 8 total solar eclipse. I am.
We can all be thankful for 5G, the fifth generation technology standard for mobile networks that mobile phone companies began rolling out in 2019. At the time, Verizon reported: “5G Ultra Wideband will transform the way we live, work, learn and play on a grand scale.”
Its scale includes serving the cell phone coverage needs of the more than 100,000 people who may visit Watertown for the total solar eclipse.
“Fortunately for us, over the last five to seven years, we’ve collectively improved our technology significantly,” AT&T Wireless spokesman Jason Komensky said in a phone interview Friday from Rochester. .
Many people may think of 5G as just about speed.
“5G actually represents a lot of what our networks can handle,” Komensky said. “To put it in perspective, 4G can handle thousands of connections at once. 5G is designed for millions of people. If a 4G network is like driving on a freeway, a 5G network is It’s like driving on a highway with 10 times as many lanes.”
Two of the three largest wireless networks, T-Mobile and Verizon, also offer 5G service in Watertown, according to coverage maps.
“Our 5G network reaches more than 295 million people,” Komensky said. “So his 100,000 people in Watertown have his 5G network, so they should be fine, especially during this time of year.”
5G coverage also depends on the type of phone you have. “Some 4G phones are built to incorporate 5G networks, while others are not,” Komensky said. “It all depends on your device.”
Telecommunications carriers have no plans to introduce portable cell phone base stations, known in the industry as COWs (Cell on Wheels).
“These things are specifically designed for things that have a very high impact, like natural disasters or events that happen across the country or around the world, and our first responders know when they arrive on the scene. “We are working hard,” Komensky said. “We know that there are huge numbers of people out there who are struggling to reach relatives and contact their loved ones because of hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, etc.”
A T-Mobile spokesperson said the company’s emergency managers met with multiple agencies in New York, including police and fire departments, to address concerns about the expected surge in network traffic around the eclipse. . “We have no plans at this time to deploy additional temporary network assets, such as Cell On Wheel in Watertown, as we have already undertaken extensive network preparation, including network upgrades and expansions in upstate New York. . Our team conducts real-time monitoring and stays prepared.”
T-Mobile announced in late January that it had completed a major network upgrade, allowing it to provide 5G coverage to more than 48,000 square miles in the northern region of the state, from Albany to Buffalo. During the eclipse, the company’s team will conduct real-time monitoring of the network’s performance and be ready to make adjustments as necessary.
Verizon spokesman Christopher Berry wrote in an email: We are confident that the additional capacity we have added to our network over the past few years will be able to handle the increased data usage in areas where people gather to experience this event. ”
Spectrum Mobile relies on the Verizon Wireless cell network for service.
“Don’t get me wrong,” says AT&T’s Komensky. “When a lot of people are gathered in one place, do calls sometimes get a little slow? Maybe. But there’s nothing weird about it. If that’s the case, we highly recommend sending a text message. Recommended. Text messages are sent faster than voice calls because they require fewer network resources. And of course, if you’re in an area with WiFi, don’t be afraid to connect to it. there is no.”
AT&T plans to carefully study the duration of the eclipse, Komensky said. “We are a great company, and we understand that our customers are everything to us, and that it is extremely important to us that they can connect to what they want, whenever and wherever they want. Our network is available 24/7, 365 days a year We have personnel monitoring. They are ready to go.”
