Heavy call volumes on wireless networks frustrated end users and led cell sites, operating on backup generators and batteries, to quickly falter during the massive power outage that crippled the northeastern United States this week.
Given the situation, even the best system would have been unable to perform optimally, said Michael Grossi, a principle analyst with Adventis Group, who compared the massive blackout to a natural disaster.
Despite the fact that generators initially kept wireless facilities-including cell sites, base stations and call centers-working, heavy call volumes led the networks to reach capacity, which caused service to be blocked and calls to be dropped in the areas affected by the blackout.
And according to Grossi, over-capacity quickly drained the backup power being provided to cell sites. Wireless carriers are probably still struggling to determine which sites are down and which are running low on backup power, Grossi said, and visits to sites will likely be required to address the problem.
Verizon Wireless said its network remained fully operational, but conceded call volumes up to four times the normal amount blocked some call attempts. Friday, the company said: “Persistent callers were usually able to complete their calls.” The company also said there may have been isolated service outages due to backup power limitations at cell sites.
Sprint PCS and Nextel Communications Inc. said multiple sites were affected by the outage, and Nextel said it was diverting power generators from New York, where power was returning on Friday, to Detroit to combat the continuing outage there.
Canadian carrier Telus Mobility said its network was operational, but service levels in Ontario were reduced and service would be inconsistent. “People should be patient and use their phone’s signal strength indicators as a guide to whether or not service is available in their area,” said Wade Oosterman, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Telus. “Calls in progress may also experience interruption as, for example, people move from an area where power has been restored to one where power is still out.”
