While mobile networks on the mainland weathered Hurricane Harvey rather well and were speedily resuscitated after Irma, Puerto Rico’s telecom situation is still a mess after a direct hit from Hurricane Maria. According to the most recent update from the Federal Communications Commission, 80 to 100 percent of cell sites are still down across almost nearly the entire island.
The FCC has released its latest Hurricane Maria communications status report for 9/28: https://t.co/ZsHP6DqlBf #PublicSafety #HurricaneMaria
— The FCC (@FCC) September 28, 2017
90% of cell phone sites are out of service in Puerto Rico. In Dorado, people gather around an antenna tower to try to get a phone signal. pic.twitter.com/earaDzt2jK
— AJ+ (@ajplus) September 28, 2017
“Somehow, despite having no means of communication other than word of mouth and maybe a battery-operated radio, Puerto Ricans discovered precisely where cell towers appeared to work — and flocked to those locations.” (Full story linked below)
(Here's my story on seeking cell phone service in San Juan: https://t.co/LibPqDXIYy)
— Patricia Mazzei (@PatriciaMazzei) September 24, 2017
Verizon has put up $1 million toward general relief efforts. Facebook has said that it is sending employees to the island to help get telecom systems back online, which will be a massive challenge with power still out to much of the territory.
Facebook sends employees to Puerto Rico to help restore cell service https://t.co/aib7tgBv6i pic.twitter.com/nHKNg0ftnJ
— The Hill (@thehill) September 28, 2017
The @FCC must commit to study how to fix networks in disaster. We have US citizens who can't make basic phone calls. https://t.co/W4Y9y2HHyj
— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) September 28, 2017
Ajit Pai, head of the FCC, said this week that Apple ought to turn on FM chips in iPhones so that people could still receive emergency transmissions and information during emergencies.
In wake of #Harvey, #Irma, & #Maria, I'm calling on @Apple to activate FM chips in iPhones to promote public safety. https://t.co/H2AvC7Am8f pic.twitter.com/ErYW9LL6nX
— Ajit Pai (@AjitPai) September 28, 2017
Only it’s not quite that easy, apparently; especially since newer iPhone models don’t even have FM chips.
Apple can’t comply with FCC request to ‘activate’ FM chips as they don’t exist in iPhones https://t.co/aIJdJjWxwK
— Carla Gentry (@data_nerd) September 29, 2017
Speaking of Apple, bringing LTE to the Apple Watch enables some clunky-but-doable hacking (SIM switching) to make an iOS device (gasp!) work with an Android phone.
I still can’t believe you can trick an LTE Apple Watch into working with Android. Mostly. https://t.co/2BOmq6RVSm https://t.co/RNHJDwc7H7
— Serenity Caldwell (@settern) September 28, 2017
Elsewhere on Twitter: In a stroll down memory lane, FastCompany revisits the rise and fall of mobile virtual network operator Amp’d Mobile. If there’s one thing that is most interesting about having been in the wireless industry as long as I have, it’s seeing what ultimately succeeds versus what is a flash in the pan. Premium MVNOs were a very big mid-aught flash that got panned.
TBT Amp'd Mobile, huge name in the MVNO sector dead in 2007 – FastCompany article https://t.co/uAH3pP5p2b
— 🅱🅸🅻🅻 🅷🅾 (@billho888) September 28, 2017
For your weekly, “well, that’s pretty cool”: Using cellular towers (microwave backhaul in particular) to gauge rainfall because of impacts to signal strength. This is a fascinating use of network data, and while in developing countries, cell towers can provide information that otherwise simply wouldn’t be available, the article also makes the point that in some markets, such network data could represent a new revenue stream.
Counting raindrops using mobile-phone towers – The Economist https://t.co/0alp9JQwu9
— Voicetel Media (@Voicetelmedia) September 28, 2017
