- AT&T is deploying amphibious vehicles and more in the region
- T-Mobile has opened up its D2D satellite service to users from other operators
- Verizon is looking ahead and deploying flood sensors in major cities
With at least 120 people dead, including over 24 children, due to flooding in Central Texas, Fierce Network took a look at how the Big 3 operators are approaching emergency cellular coverage in the Hill Country region, and what one major telco is doing to keep people safe from flooding in the future.
We reached out to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon to get information on their emergency response. While AT&T has FirstNet, which it describes as “the only network built with and for America’s first responders," T-Mobile and Verizon have started to build up their own emergency responses. Both mobile network operators now offer 5G nationwide network slices for first responders.
Because much of the Guadalupe River floodplain has spotty cellular service, we also talked to an analyst about what operators are doing to better connect people during emergencies.
AT&T moved in amphibious vehicles and high-water equipment
AT&T is deploying amphibious vehicles and high-water equipment in Texas. Plus, “public safety agencies on FirstNet...also have 24/7 access to a dedicated nationwide fleet of more than 180 deployable network assets, helping them connect to the critical information they need,” an AT&T spokesperson told Fierce. (AT&T is offering ongoing Texas flood zone updates on this page.)
The company spokesperson said AT&T has invested more than $1 billion in its Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) program since it launched the scheme back in 1992, calling it one of the largest in the industry. “Its sole purpose – to rapidly restore connectivity to areas affected by disasters,” the spokesperson said.
AT&T said in February 2024 that the next phase of FirstNet will have a 5G standalone (SA) core and it will also support the transition of public safety’s Band 14 spectrum from LTE to 5G. The telco said it will invest $8 billion in the project over 10 years.
The carrier is also contributing $200,000 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and matching 100% of employee donations.
T-Mobile deployed SatCOLT, drones and free Wi-Fi
A T-Mobile spokesperson told Fierce that it recently made investments for disaster season preparation, including in AI-enabled Self-Organizing Network (SON) technology, satellite messaging with Starlink and larger satellite cell on wheels (SatCOWs) vehicles.
“In flood-prone areas, we elevate or position network infrastructure on high ground. We also have access to amphibious vehicles, airboats, high water trucks and monohull boats as needed,” the T-Mo spokesperson told us.
“In Kerr County, we deployed a SatCOLT to the Unified Command Center, are providing free Wi-Fi and charging to anyone who needs it, and our teams deployed a search and rescue drone to help first responders. Coverage drones and other equipment are also on standby to use where and when needed,” the operator added.
T-Mobile also donated $500,000 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and is matching employee donations at 2:1.
Verizon provides LEO for drone search and recovery ops
“Despite the extensive devastation across the region, Verizon’s network remained fully operational. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation to prioritize life, safety and connectivity,” a Verizon spokesperson told Fierce.
The operator said it is in contact with local public safety and emergency management teams to coordinate any communication needs or support. This includes providing low-earth orbit satellite devices to aid the Texas Department of Public Safety’s drone search and recovery operations.
Verizon is supporting its customers and local communities by donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue, a first responder organization that deploys professionally trained volunteers throughout the state of Texas to support its crucial search, rescue, and recovery operations.
A future with flood sensors
Verizon, in partnership with United Way and Hyfi, is starting to roll out flood sensors in flood-prone areas. “The flood sensors are installed across cities to provide critical information to city officials and local residents in flood-prone areas,” Verizon said, noting that the sensors provide users information via an app.
“These sensors are currently in use across New Orleans, and provided critical data during Hurricane Francine last year. They will be rolled out soon in Chicago, Detroit and Miami," Verizon noted.
An analyst take on emergency messaging and response
Jonathan Chaplin, New Street Research analyst told Fierce that the major operators are working on creating ubiquitous coverage via satellite, which will enable all of them to offer ubiquitous messaging across the country.
“T-Mobile is doing it in conjunction with SpaceX, while AT&T and Verizon have partnered with AST Space mobile,” he said.
T-Mobile started offering its direct-to-device satellite messaging via Starlink this year. “They have been offering it to their own customers as well as those of AT&T and Verizon (you don’t even need to switch carriers to get T-Mobile’s satellite-based service),” Chaplin noted in an email.
“Apple has also been doing it for a couple of years in conjunction with Globalstar. If you have an iPhone, you can send emergency messages via satellite when you are out of range of a mobile network, no matter who your mobile carrier is,” Chaplin noted.