RCC UNICEL in Alabama and Mississippi down

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Lightning Strike Temporarily Disables Unicel Network
Regional Headquarters Hit, No Injuries Reported

Enterprise, AL – August 2, 2002 – At approximately 6:30 p.m. (CST) last night, lightning struck the Enterprise, Ala. regional headquarters of Unicel. No one was injured at Unicel’s Enterprise facility, but the lightning has temporarily disabled the cellular communications company’s wireless network that serves an estimated 200,000 Unicel customers and other wireless users who are travelling through Alabama and Mississippi.

Unicel employees are working around-the-clock to reactivate the network as soon as possible, and partial service is expected to be restored as early as this weekend.

“This was a major lightning storm that did significant damage to our network, so unfortunately restoring service will take more than just switching a breaker back on,” said Bob Moore, senior vice president of Unicel.

In addition to Unicel, the thunderstorm and heavy lightning has affected other businesses in Enterprise. Restoration of service to Unicel customers is complicated by the fact that other long-distance and local telecommunications providers who are linked to Unicel’s network are also currently without service.

“We appreciate the patience of every Unicel customer, and we would like them to know that we are working night and day to restore service in the face of this natural disaster,” added Moore.

Unicel’s entire operations, including customer service, have been affected by the lightning strike. Unicel’s toll-free customer service line (800.881.2355) is expected to be restored in the near future.

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All I can say: [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

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