AT&T continues to work around the clock to help the people of Puerto Rico recover from Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The company set up a website that will let anyone stateside (regardless of carrier) to register the cell phone number of a family member or friend who is an AT&T wireless customer in Puerto Rico. When the Puerto Rico-based customer’s cell phone connects to the AT&T network in Puerto Rico, the customer will be notified their family or friends in the U.S. have been trying to reach them.
The family member or friend who registered will also be notified through email when additional service in Puerto Rico has been restored. AT&T Communications CEO John Donovan said critical help began arriving over the weekend and more is on the way. He went with one of the relief flights into San Juan to help assess damage and develop recovery plans. More flights and ships carrying communications equipment and supplies are arriving in the coming days. The equipment includes generators, fuel and satellite devices for first responders as well as food, bottled water and personnel.
Significant storm damage, power outages and flooding interrupted service throughout the region. AT&T is working to restore and maintain service. Staging areas are set up and teams are in place to start deploying equipment as it arrives.
Indeed, AP reported many citizens are driving to the old telegraph building in the capital of San Juan in hopes of getting a WiFi hotspot that works to connect to friends and loved ones. Others are pulling over to the side of the road along various highways where cell phone signals are strongest.
T-Mobile said it reached a deal with other providers to help reconnect customers. Cell provider Claro was installing 40 generators to power its sites, and expects 50 more generators to arrive from the Dominican Republic once a ferry from the neighboring island is working, AP reported.
September 26, 2017
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