Cellular South Mobilizes for Hurricane Gustav

JACKSON, Miss., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- While the latest weather forecasts predict Hurricane Gustav may hit theMississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast early next week, Cellular South already has mobilized its network and employees to ensure they are ready for any emergency situation.

"We are taking this situation very seriously," said Jim Richmond, director of Corporate Communications for Cellular South. "During a crisis, the ability to communicate is even more critical for individuals, families and emergency response personnel. We are committed to providing our customers with the best network coverage possible in every situation."

The wireless carrier's 1,000-member workforce along with the company's network resources are now on "high alert." Cellular South has also activated its Emergency Response Plan, which guides the deployment of company resources and personnel during a crisis.

"Our preparations are designed to give customers maximum reliability from their wireless phones at the time of greatest need," Richmond said. "In 2005, we saw in a very personal way that people depend on their wireless phones as a lifeline to the outside world, not just for a day, but for weeks and even months at a time."

With most other carriers' wireless networks destroyed or seriously impaired by the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina three years ago, Cellular South played a vital communications role in the days following the storm, carrying over 2.6 million calls a day only a few days after the storm hit and logging a 470 percent increase in the number of minutes on its network used by other carriers' customers.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Cellular South bolstered its network even further on the Mississippi Gulf Coast by investing $8 million in equipment and system upgrades to help improve wireless communications in the event of another storm.

Most significantly, Cellular South invested $2.5 million in microwave technology to help circumvent damaged or destroyed landline systems and ensure wireless calls can be routed to their final destination.

"This microwave technology is critical to support communications during natural disasters when landline systems are inoperable," Richmond said.

The company also invested $3 million to install more than 200 permanent generators in cell sites so Cellular South's network and customers are not affected by loss of power.

The company also invested $6 million for a switch inHattiesburg to further increase capacity for call volume and text messaging throughoutSouth Mississippi and has upgraded its network to deliver 3G high-speed wireless data and Internet access service.

To help customers prepare for the Hurricane and its aftermath, the company is launching a website with links and information on hurricane resources, weather, traffic, gasoline prices, evacuation routes, emergency response details and hotel information. The site can be accessed through the Internet

at http://www.cellularsouth.com/hurricane or via the mobile web at the Cellular South main page under an icon called "Hurricane Gustav."

Cellular South also is activating its #STORM hotline or 1888-CSOUTH5 for customer updates on storm-related wireless service and network capabilities, store hours and openings for retail locations in affected areas and for other disaster relief information.

"For many of ourMississippi customers, Cellular South was the first and only means of communication available during and after Hurricane Katrina," Richmond said. "We want our customers to know that we stand ready to respond to whatever circumstances come their way."

The company is coordinating its emergency response preparations with local, state and federal agencies, including theMississippi Emergency Management Agency and the office of Gov. Haley Barbour.

About Cellular South

Cellular South is a privately-owned diversified mobile communications company passionately committed to helping customers get the most out of their wireless devices and services. The company accomplishes this goal by providing the most reliable and advanced nationwide 3G wireless voice and data network, offering a full range of industry-leading unlimited flat rate plans, and through its online and in-store Discover Centers, which give customers easy, simple and convenient tools, tips, advice and information to get the most out of their mobile phone to meet all of their wireless lifestyle needs. For more information, visit http://www.cellularsouth.com.

SOURCE Cellular South

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