Cellular South Ready for Artic Blast This Weekend

Cellular South, the largest privately-owned wireless provider in the U.S., is taking precautionary steps to bolster its network and mobilize employees to protect against potential damage from winter weather conditions in the Southeast that could produce ice, snow, sleet and freezing rain this weekend.

The latest forecast from the National Weather Service indicates that a blast of artic air will move into the region on Sunday from the northeast and collide with warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico, creating conditions that forecasters say could produce from 4 to 8 inches of snow in parts of Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama and a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain for other parts of the region.

The company has placed its network management staff and all contractors on emergency standby this weekend and has readied its extensive web of cell sites and other infrastructure for the severe winter weather conditions. "Our preparations are designed to give customers maximum reliability from their wireless phones at the time of greatest need," said Trey Howard, director of Network Operations for Cellular South. "When these types of conditions occur, people depend on their wireless phones as a lifeline to the outside world.”

Howard said Cellular South has extensive experience in responding to severe weather conditions, including the Delta ice storms, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and numerous tornadoes that have lashed the region in recent years. “For many customers and others as well, Cellular South is the first and often only means of communications available during severe or threatening weather conditions,” he said. “We want our customers to know that we stand ready to respond to whatever circumstances come their way.”

Howard said the wireless carrier's 1,150-member workforce, along with the company's extensive network resources, will be on "high alert" throughout the weekend to respond to any potential impacts to its wireless network infrastructure. Cellular South also stands ready to activate its Emergency Response Plan, which guides the deployment of company resources and personnel during a crisis.

Since 2006, Cellular South has invested over $350 million as part of its broader $530 million overall network investment on new technologies, facilities and network-strengthening efforts, including:

• $8 million in equipment and system upgrades along the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help improve wireless communications in the event of severe weather, tornadoes or another hurricane.
• $3 million in microwave technology to help circumvent damaged or destroyed landline telecommunications systems and ensure wireless calls can be routed to their eventual destination. The company has four active microwave rings in operation at this time and plans to activate a fifth ring in the near future.
• $3 million to install more than 200 additional permanent generators in cell sites so the network and customers are not affected by commercial power outages.
• $8.1 million to build two new super switch facilities in Hattiesburg, Miss. and Mobile, Ala. to further increase capacity for voice and data services throughout south Mississippi, the Gulf Coast and south Alabama. The facilities, designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane with winds of up to 250 miles per hour, are equipped with large-scale built-in battery back-up and heavy-duty, diesel-powered generators.
• Continued expansion of the company’s mobile broadband network with activation of 158 new high-speed data sites so that 8 out of every 10 customers across the company’s service area have access to high-speed data services.

• Activation of 100 new cell sites this year with on-site generators and expanded fuel tanks to extend power-generating capacity.

“These investments by Cellular South will help ensure that essential communications continue for our consumer and business customers even when we experience severe weather or other life-threatening situations,” Howard said.

The company is coordinating its precautionary preparations with local, state and federal agencies, including the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the office of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and the National Weather Service.

About Cellular South

Cellular South is a diversified mobile communications company passionately committed to helping customers get the most out of their wireless devices and services. The nation’s largest privately owned wireless communications provider accomplishes this goal by optimizing customers’ app experience through Discover Apps, providing the most reliable and advanced high-speed nationwide wireless voice and data network, offering industry-leading family and unlimited flat rate voice, text and mobile web plans, and through its online and in-store Discover Centers, which give customers easy, simple and convenient tools, tips, advice and information on how to get the most out of their mobile phone. For more information about Cellular South and its products and services, visit www.cellularsouth.com.