As of October 10, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. EDT, a total of 1,953 cell sites in Florida were out of service due to Hurricane Milton, representing 12.3% of the 15,877 cell sites in the state, according to the FCC.
Of the 1,953 offline cell sites, a total of 16 were out “due to damage,” 562 were out “due to transport”, 1,351 were out “due to lack of power.” A further 611 cell sites were operating on back-up power.
The FCC notes that the number of cell site outages in a specific area does not necessarily correspond to the availability of wireless service to consumers in that area because wireless networks are designed with numerous, overlapping cell sites that provide maximum capacity and continuity of service even when an individual site is inoperable. In addition, wireless providers frequently use temporary facilities, such as cells-on-wheels (also known as COWs), increase power at operational sites, initiate roaming agreements, or take other actions to maintain service to affected consumers during emergencies or other events that result in cell site outages.
Cable and wireline companies reported 1,273,354 subscribers out of service in the disaster area. This includes the loss of telephone, television, and/or Internet services.
