Company urges all wireless users in South Mississippi to limit calling to emergency purposes only
JACKSON, Miss. - (September 2, 2005) – Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, Cellular South's Emergency Task force deployed Monday evening and has made significant progress in restoration of service in the Pine Belt Area including service on critical thoroughfares and highways in Hattiesburg, Laurel, Columbia Waynesboro, Richton, New Augusta, Lucedale and Petal among other areas.
Cellular South's network maintained a signal in some of the hardest hit areas following Monday's storm and never lost service in parts of Hattiesburg and Biloxi.
"We urge all wireless phone users in South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast to limit calling to emergency purposes only to allow first responders priority access to wireless phone networks," said Hu Meena, Cellular South president.
"Demand for our service is high. Immediately after a tower comes back on line, it is loaded with the maximum number of calls that the newest available technology can handle," said Meena. "We recognize that many customers have not talked to loved ones in days but do ask that everyone understand the delays this can cause our network as it is overloaded with calls."
In hardest hit areas, the company deployed COWs (Cellular on Wheels) as temporary cellular sites that support service in areas where power is lost or network damage has occurred. Wireless crews from around the country are assisting with restoration.
"Cellular South is committed to helping residents of our home state in the best way we can – by restoring their wireless service and ability to communicate during this critical time," said Meena. "We know the last few days have been emotionally trying for hundreds of thousands. Our technicians and engineers – some who have also suffered personal losses – are feverishly working to restore our network to capacity as quickly and safely as possible."
Cellular South's network stretches from Memphis, throughout Mississippi and along the Alabama Coast and into the Florida Panhandle. The company serves more wireless customers than any other provider in some of the most stricken areas in Mississippi. Cellular South was the first to offer wireless service to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1988 and is the only major wireless provider headquartered in Mississippi.
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
