Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Hits Cell Networks > Cell Networks are NOT up to the task

Cell Networks are NOT up to the task

polishin' my turd. polish polish polish.

reply to PhoenixDown
Companies are about profit. The less money they can spend on increasing network capacity, the more they pocket. 95% of the time its nowhere near capacity they set. But the moment something big happens, that capacity is strained beyond limits thought of or limits they care to lift because the other 95% of the time its not needed.

good point. REGULAR phone networks are also subject to outages like this. i'm certain the ratio is different (how many people can use one tower versus how many people can use their landline in a certain radius), but enough people pick up their phones at the same time there's gonna be a problem.

It used to be that the odds of such an event happening where thousands of people would want to pick up their phone and call someone where pretty slim but in some places, like nyc, its been happening more and more and I simply feel that the networks need to better prepared to handle such contingencies.

- 9/11
- North East Power Outage
- Steam Pipe
- Etc Etc Etc
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agreed. probably will happen when there are more cell lines than land lines. until that time, i'm not holding my breath.

reply to PhoenixDown
The simple truth is that the Cellular Networks need to tap into a state/federal government kept list of emergency personnel who have priority access to their cell network.

If there is a bona fide emergency, and someone on the state/federal government kept list tries to make a call, and there is no "channel" available, someone without priority access gets their call dropped, with a message to both parties that the call was dropped due to the channel being needed for emergency personnel use.

It's the same thing as moving over when you see an ambulance/firetruck/police cruiser on the highway. The only difference with Cellular Networks is that one can't see the need for them to use their cell.

I'm not concerned about Joe Schmo's calling, I'm concerned about seach and rescue personnel and crisis management personnel having access to the cellular network. They're the ones who need access.

It may sound cruel, but your call to your loved ones can wait (or get cut off) if it means the difference between life and death for someone else.

[NG]Owner
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It is impossible to create an idiot-proof product. Humanity is simply too adept at churning out better idiots.

reply to PhoenixDown
People are always quick to blame carriers for inadequate service but do not realize a few trivial facts.

Cell phone neworks, just like broadband, provide access time slices into the network. Obviously if any given portion of the network is being used to full capacity, guess what? You find yourself with a fast busy. Perhaps it is negligent of any carrier to add more cell site capacity than adequate trunk lines all while continuing to push for new subscribers as aggressively as they are, but how necessary is it to tie up a line for anything other than letting loved ones know you're okay?

The real dangerous problem here, just like in 911, is with tying up the network and preventing emergency personnel to respond. Get off your asses and off your phones.

During 9/11 and again during the blackout, people were stuck in the city as mass transit wasn't operational. If you were a single parent stuck in the city - you would want to get in touch with your family and friends to see if you can make arraingements to get your kids from day care. Thats just one of many scenarios. I personally would've loved to get in touch with someone who couldve given me a lift.
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reply to PhoenixDown

reply to PhoenixDown
I agree with you completely that we need to spend our resources revitalizing the infrastructure of our country - whether its mass transit, our highways, or broadband.
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reply to PhoenixDown
did you know that we the people are part of the cellular infrastructure problem?

yes it is us that is partly to blame because when a cell carrier wants to up capacity and build more towers people bring up that NIMBY bullshit and then when a big problem hits they bring up bullshit about the network lacking ability to handle call volume and that it needs more, disaster washes over and they bitch about how towers ruin the looks of an area.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports