Sprint Prepared for Fay's Impact

[larry]

Sprint Prepared for Fay's Impact

Sprint Nextel invested $59 million in Network Preparations in Coastal Communities Millions of Customers and First Responders Rely on Nextel Direct Connect
MIAMI, Aug 18, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sprint (NYSE:S) today said it is preparing for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Fay threatening to make landfall in the Florida Keys Monday evening and then again through southwest and central Florida Tuesday. As it does for every impending tropical storm or hurricane, Sprint has staged backup generators and personnel in strategic locations in Florida to manage potential service impacts.

In addition, Sprint installed permanent generators at more than 1,000 additional sites in hurricane-prone communities in Florida in 2007. Sprint also added more than 450 new sites throughout the state of Florida to its Nationwide Sprint Network and Nextel National network in 2007.

One of the primary reasons for the loss of wireless service in a hurricane is the loss of commercial power to the cell site. Sprint continues to take steps to reduce the effect of power loss on its wireless networks. In 2007, Sprint invested $59 million for hurricane preparations in storm-prone coastal communities. This investment included the installation of permanent generators for critical wireless sites and network facilities as well as investment in additional portable generators and Cell Sites on Wheels (COWs) - mobile cell sites that can be deployed in impacted areas to restore service quickly. This equipment provides backup to the networks in the event of power outages or other damage that could result after a hurricane.

As a standard practice, Sprint has permanent generators at all of its wireless and wireline switches, the network components where data and calls are routed to their final destination. In addition, permanent generators are installed at all of the company's network Points of Presence (POP), the facilities where traffic enters and leaves the company's global IP network, which facilitates dedicated data services for Sprint's corporate and government customers as well as other critical communications. These backup generators have automatic cutover switches to immediately neutralize any loss of commercial power.

Customers can take proactive steps before the storm hits. Sprint offers the following consumer tips to prepare for a possible landfall:

-- Keep your wireless phone and backup batteries charged, but be aware that an interruption of wireline and commercial power could affect wireless calls.

-- If possible, get extra batteries and charge them.

-- In times of commercial power outages, a car adapter for your wireless phone should enable you to recharge the battery.

-- Keep phones and necessary accessories in a sealed plastic bag to avoid water damage.

-- Load family and emergency numbers into your wireless phone.

-- Wireless networks sometimes experience heavy traffic during emergency events, so remember to use Nextel Direct Connect(R) or send a text message.

Sprint has a strong track record of providing critical communications and personnel to assist first responders with relief efforts. Sprint's network and business continuity teams will deploy additional Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTS,) the design of which is proprietary to Sprint. SatCOLTS help facilitate communications among relief and response agencies.

[liagb59]

NICE!!! It is good to see that they are up on top of things if it gets bad out there.

[Ddeere2]

Yeah, I know people who moan and complain about Sprints service, but at least they come out and say they're prepared for disasters. I don't know about Verizon or AT&T, but it looks like Sprint is starting to clean up their act.

[liagb59]

Yes, I agree and it is nice to know that they are prepared, I would like to think the others did that too

[Yankees368]

Originally Posted by Ddeere2

Yeah, I know people who moan and complain about Sprints service, but at least they come out and say they're prepared for disasters. I don't know about Verizon or AT&T, but it looks like Sprint is starting to clean up their act.

Down in this area, it's a wonder that Sprint did not have better backup power and readyness previous to 1 year ago.

[liagb59]

Yeah, well they do now and that is good....glad to hear it...

[Ddeere2]

Yup, better late then never right?