CHICAGO, May 20, 2014 — Hurricanes, blizzards, flooding, even man-made disasters – Chicago has seen its share. AT&T* recognizes the importance of reliable communication during a disaster and that’s why its Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) organization will conduct a technology recovery exercise, March 8-15 in Chicago, IL at Soldier Field. The drills include establishing emergency communications channels from the site – using equipment such as Emergency Communications Vehicles, satellite COLTs (Cell on Light Trucks), and microwave radio links.

Over twenty-six pieces of recovery equipment will be used at the exercise in the south parking lot at Soldier Field.

  • Five 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)
  • Two Emergency Communications Vehicles
  • Mini Cell on Light Trailer (mini COLT)
  • 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

WHAT

AT&T Technology Recovery Drill – preparedness exercise to ensure quick recovery of communications after disaster strikes

WHEN:           

Media Visits — May 9 - 12, 2014

Friday – 8AM to 4PM
Saturday-Sunday – 9AM – 4PM
Monday– 9AM – 3PM

WHERE:        

Soldier Field South Parking Lot
1410 South Museum Drive
Chicago, IL 60616

VISUALS:

  • Tours of AT&T NDR Recovery Site and State-of-the-Art Technology 
  • Recovery Equipment
  • Hazmat Demonstration

In its two decades of service, the team has been deployed more than 70 times – 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.

“We chose Chicago for this exercise, in part, 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. ”NDR exercises are a global effort – they are conducted in the United States and abroad to maintain the readiness of the team and its equipment.”

This will be the NDR team’s fourth full technical exercise in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. 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) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse® brand. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

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Reliability claim based on data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks. 4G LTE availability varies.