Can the Wireless Network Handle Huge Expansion of Users?

July 30th, 2008

Yesterday, there was a huge network disruption over the greater part of Sothern California.  People tried to make calls only to find the signal was busy, and were even told by the state to refrain from making non-emergency calls because the 911 networks were inoperative as well.  And the cause of this failure?  It had nothing to do with the equipment, the cellular network simply couldn’t handle people doing what phone companies want them to do:  make phone calls. 

In wake of a modest 5.4 earthquake in Chino Hills on Tuesday (a magnitude which knocked over no buildings, street lamps, bridges, or glasses of water for that matter), an 800% spike in cell activity caused the networks to completely overload.  And while nothing horrible came from the situation, and the cell network was back to normal by the end of the day, such an event raises the question:  what were to happen in the event of a real emergency?  I know this sounds like I’m just poking holes and being overly critical, but in a time when cellular phone subscriptions are growing exponentially, isn’t it fair to say that, given any kind of earthquake or attack or national emergency, wouldn’t everyone with a phone be calling to check on their families?  And if a 5.4 earthquake can flood the 911 network, could it respond in a more severe situation?  I don’t really have any answer here… I just have to say, whatever the event, the key to resolving any kind of crisis is communication and coordination, and for that mobile phones are absolutely necessary.  Service providers should definitely take a hint from this temporary blackout, and make sure the network can handle future situations.

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