T-Mobile bolsters emergency tech for 2025 hurricane season
As the 2025 hurricane season begins, T-Mobile has announced a series of technological upgrades and emergency preparedness measures to strengthen connectivity across the U.S. and its territories, including Puerto Rico.
The company said it has deployed artificial intelligence, satellite messaging capabilities, and an expanded fleet to support both consumers and first responders during extreme weather events.
“At T-Mobile, we know that staying connected in today’s world isn’t a luxury — it’s a vital necessity,” said Ulf Ewaldsson, president of technology at T-Mobile. “We continue to enhance our network foundation with smarter technology, advanced AI and space-based satellite innovation to make it more resilient and responsive.”
According to T-Mobile, its upgraded self-organizing network (SON) uses real-time data and AI to detect outages and automatically adjust operations. The company reported that during past hurricanes such as Helene and Milton, the system carried out more than 121,000 antenna adjustments to maintain coverage, even when individual towers were affected.
Through its partnership with Starlink, T-Mobile said its T-Satellite service has enabled more than 500,000 text messages and 140 emergency alerts to be sent during past natural disasters. The service allows users with compatible smartphones to message 911 or contacts even when traditional cellular service is unavailable, with no app or special hardware required.
The company said it has expanded its fleet with oversized SatCOWs (satellite cell sites on wheels) and SatCOLTs (satellite cell sites on light trucks). T-Mobile described these new mobile units as the largest and most capable in its history, offering wider coverage and remote monitoring.
The company also has launched T-Priority, a network segment it says is dedicated to emergency responders. According to T-Mobile, this service provides up to five times more network resources than standard connections, delivering low-latency, high-speed 5G for critical communication needs.
