[LINK] crossover networks by AT&T/T-Mobile in storm area

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Hi Jan,

This routinely happens in Oz...you just have to pay a premium to use other 
networks (like ATMs)

eg. Vodafone cut out in bits of  Tasmania - but the area was served by 
Telstra and around Launceston, Optus popped up.

The problem people will have is their mobile phone batteries will go flat 
and they will be in the dark (unless they have energy efficient lighting 
and a solar charger). Disasters are also a reason to have distributed power:

> Power to the People! (Cabinet)
> 
> Tom Worthington
> 
> Power to the People! is a display of energy generation and use. The controversy over carbon tax, climate change and electricity price increases have obscured the simple facts of how it is generated.
> 
> This display shows a photovoltaic panel (a so called "solar panel") connected to a ammeter and light emitting diodes (LEDs). The solar panel generates electrical power, the wires conduct the electricity to the lights and the meter measures the power used.
> 
> http://blog.tomw.net.au/2012/08/power-to-people.html
<http://www.ramin.com.au/annandale/eco-annandale-2012/>

Marghanita

Jan Whitaker wrote:
> Would the 2-3 (more?) mobile networks in Australia be able to do the 
> same in the case of a disaster? Think how many towers they probably 
> lost across that large area. This strategy makes good sense for load 
> balancing, too. erizon isn't part of the deal, although they lost the 
> worst amount. Story:
> 
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/att-tmobile-hurricane-sandy_n_2051135.html
> 
> AT&T and T-Mobile announced on Wednesday a plan to share their 
> networks in New York and New Jersey. The move should help customers 
> on both networks that are suffering spotty cell service in the wake 
> of Hurricane Sandy.
> 
> Provided that users have compatible devices, they will be able to use 
> whichever network is more functional in their area.
> 
> According to a press release issued via email on Wednesday, users 
> should be able to switch seamlessly between either network; the 
> release also says that users will not be hit with extra charges for 
> the added service.
> 
> "AT&T and T-Mobile customers will be able to place calls just as they 
> normally would, but their calls will be carried by whichever network 
> is most operational in their area," the release reads. "This will be 
> seamless for AT&T and T-Mobile customers with no change to their 
> current rate plans or service agreements even if the phone indicates 
> the device is attached to the other carrier's network."
> 
> The agreement is possible because both AT&T and T-Mobile use the same 
> GSM and UMTS standards.
> 
> [more at the link]
> 
> 
> Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
> jwhit at janwhitaker.com
> blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
> business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
> 
> Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
> sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
> ~Madeline L'Engle, writer
> 
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-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
Ramin Communications (Sydney)
Website: http://ramin.com.au
Phone:(+612) 0414-869202
---
Eco-Annandale 2012 on the Theme of Energy
http://ramin.com.au/annandale/eco-annandale-2012