Residents in hard-hit regions of the South are facing frustrating delays in cell service restoration following Hurricane Helene. Despite the efforts of major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, reliable network connectivity may still be a while away for many.
Cell towers are typically designed to withstand severe weather conditions, including hurricane-force winds. However, during power outages, many cells rely on backup generators that can eventually run out of fuel. In areas where flooding or road damage hinders access to these generators, the cell towers can lose power and become inoperable. Additionally, floodwaters can damage the bases of cell towers, further complicating repair efforts.
Cell phone companies have various tools at their disposal to maintain network operations during and after a hurricane. These include farm-themed COWs (cells on wheels) and COLTs (cells on light trucks). However, deploying these backup tools is contingent on network operators being able to access the affected areas.
Verizon reported on Tuesday that they had restored 60% of the cell towers impacted by the storm. AT&T and T-Mobile also noted that progress is being made in restoring connectivity. Nevertheless, even with a majority of networks back online, customers may still experience service disruptions due to overwhelming call and data usage, particularly in areas where Wi-Fi access is unavailable.
