Sprint Nextel announced plans to spend $100 million for hurricane preparations in storm-prone coastal communities. This investment includes the installation of permanent generators for critical wireless cell sites and network facilities on the company’s Global IP Network, which provides wireline data and long distance voice services. In addition, the investment funds the purchase of portable generators, SatCOWs (Satellite Cell on Wheels) and SatCOLTs (Satellite Cell on Light Trucks) which can be deployed as part of the company’s disaster response and recovery.
By the end of 2006, the company plans to install permanent generators in approximately 800 cell sites serving both the Nationwide Sprint PCS and Nextel National Networks, primarily in Florida. The company also announced plans to install 1,500 additional permanent generators at sites in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, and other locations in Florida by the end of 2008.
Sprint Nextel also noted that as a standard business practice, it has permanent generators deployed to all of its wireless and wireline switches. In addition, permanent generators are installed at all of the company’s network POPs.
As an example of other hurricane preparations, Sprint Nextel is relocating a section its SONET fiber ring between Mobile, Ala. and Hammond, La. to a path further inland, away from flood-prone areas along the Gulf Coast. http://www.sprint.com/hurricaneinfo
