State-of-the-Art Network Recovery Trailers, Satellite COLT, Hazmat Training, Part of Preparedness Drill

ORLANDO, Fla., April 24, 2015 — AT&T* knows reliable communication is critical during a disaster. That’s why its Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) organizations’ quarterly technology recovery exercise is taking place from April 23 to 29 in Greater Orlando.

AT&T holds technology recovery exercises three to four times a year in different cities across the globe to ensure customers’ voice and data services keep going when they are needed most—during and after a disaster.  At this exercise, the NDR team will perform drills including establishing emergency communications channels from the site – using equipment such as Emergency Communications Vehicles, satellite COLTs (Cell on Light Trucks) and microwave radio links.

“We chose Central Florida for this exercise to help local and regional first responders understand NDR’s role in restoring communications for an area impacted by a disaster,” said Mark Francis, VP, Network Operations. “These exercises help ensure that our NDR team is well-practiced and prepared to restore communications for our customers in the critical moments during and after disaster strikes.”

Over 25 pieces of recovery equipment will be used at the exercise in the parking lot at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.

  • Nine Technology Recovery Trailers, including one all-IP trailer that is able to handle massive amounts of network traffic
  • Satellite COLT (Cell on Light Truck - a cell tower than can be moved anywhere via truck)
  • Mini Cell on Light Trailer (mini COLT)
  • Two Emergency Communications Vehicles
  • Command trailer – a 53-foot trailer with pop-out sides where the incident management team works
  • Tool and Supply Trailer (a small hardware store)
  • Power Trailer and Power Distribution Trailer
  • Hazmat Response Trailers               

AT&T’s NDR team has activated more than 70 recovery deployments in its two decades of service – including recent deployments for Hurricanes Sandy in 2012 and Irene in 2011. The NDR team deployed on September 11, 2001, following the New York City World Trade Center disaster – recovering the services of a destroyed network office and providing emergency communications support for humanitarian efforts.

This will be the NDR team’s first full technical exercise in the greater Orlando metropolitan area and its fifth full exercise in Florida. For more information, visit the Network Disaster Recovery page.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. We’re helping people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between. Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nation’s strongest LTE signal and the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage. We’re improving how our customers stay entertained and informed with AT&T U-verse® TV and High Speed Internet services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with AT&T’s mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

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Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers’ LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere. Global coverage claim based on offering voice and data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.