System Still Accommodating Significant Increase In Volume
JACKSON, Miss. - (September 7, 2005) - Today's briefing from Cellular South, the largest privately held wireless provider in the U.S.
Today's Updates
The Cellular South wireless network in hardest hit areas will be fully operational by Monday, Sept. 12.
Customers in unaffected areas should experience normal service. Those in affected areas may experience service quality issues including multiple calling attempts for the next few days.
Cellular South has been partially operational in the hardest hit areas since August 29, the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
Hundreds of Cellular South employees continue to work around the clock in the field and in permanent and temporary retail locations to help restore service and provide assistance to victims and evacuees.
Handling more call volume than before Katrina
Network call volume and minutes used are up significantly in the time frame between yesterday, Sept. 6, and Aug. 23, one week prior to Katrina. The data shows that Cellular South is not only handling the volume experienced prior to Katrina, but it’s also handling the additional volume despite not being fully restored as of today.
Call volume is up 16% (Sept. 6 vs. Aug. 23).
Minutes of use are up 21% (Sept. 6 vs. Aug. 23).
More than 7,000 victims and evacuees assisted since Monday at Cellular South phone bank locations.
Cellular South has been operating Free Call and Cell Phone Charger Centers for any customer, regardless of their wireless carrier.
More than 90% of the Cellular South retail locations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in the Pine Belt are open.
Cellular South stores with damage in Gulfport, Biloxi and Bay St. Louis are operating out of tents.
Continuing Emergency Service Assistance
Cellular South has provided loaner phones to Red Cross Shelters around the state so evacuees who are not Cellular South customers will have access to communication.
Hundreds of cell phones have been provided to first responders, government agencies and disaster relief teams who are coordinating Mississippi’s disaster relief efforts.
Notes
For updates, call #STORM from your Cellular South phones, call toll-free 1.888.790.7211 or check www.cellularsouth.com.
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
