Complimentary wireless phones and service provided to agencies for relief efforts
JACKSON, Miss. - (August 30, 2005) – Cellular South's Emergency Task Force is rapidly working to restore service to customers throughout its areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The company will work around the clock to monitor and restore wireless service that has been impacted by widespread power outages. In hardest hit areas, the company is deploying COWs (Cellular on Wheels) as temporary cellular sites that support service in areas where power is lost or network damage has occurred. Additionally, wireless crews from around the country are coming in to assist with restoration.
“The safety of our communities is Cellular South's top priority and hundreds of technicians and engineers are working together with local officials to quickly restore service in affected areas,” said Hu Meena, Cellular South president. “We are committed to providing the best service possible and will work around the clock to ensure that happens.”
Store openings
All retail locations along the Mississippi Gulf remain closed, as well as many stores in South and Central Mississippi. In Mobile and the Eastern Shore, all locations are open with the exception Bell Air Mall and Tillman's Corner. Customers may dial #STORM from their Cellular South phone, dial toll-free 1.888.790.7211, or visit cellularsouth.com for more information.
First responders rely on wireless service in times of crisis
Cellular South's first priority is to provide service to emergency response personnel, allowing police, fire and disaster-relief teams to immediately receive an open voice channel to place and receive wireless calls. Other Cellular South customers are asked to make wireless calls only for emergency reasons, to preserve capacity for use by emergency responders. Text messaging customers are urged to send text messages rather than make voice calls when possible, as text messaging places less demand on wireless networks than voice calls.
About Cellular South
The company is the largest privately held wireless provider in the U.S. and is licensed to provide wireless service – to a total population of more than five million people – on its network stretching from the Memphis Metropolitan Area, throughout all of Mississippi, along Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Walton County. The company has been named Mississippi Business Journal's Salute to Business and Industry 2005 Large Retailer. For more information, contact Cellular South at 1-877-CSOUTH1 or visit cellularsouth.com.
Contact:
Tanya Rankin, Cellular South (601) 974-7134 trankin@cellularsouth.com
