How are telecom giants keeping Californians connected during wildfires?

Here’s what companies are doing to assist so far:

The telecoms giant is offering residents support in affected counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Venture by waiving call, text and data usage charges for both prepaid and post-paid customers until 18 January 2025.

Prepaid brands under Verizon, such as Straight Talk, Tracfone, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile and others, are also extending service end dates to 18 January 2025, for customers in impacted counties.

Meanwhile, to address disruptions caused by wildfire conditions and Public Safety Power Shutoffs in the Los Angeles area, Verizon’s engineers are actively working with local public agencies to deploy portable generators and restore service as quickly and safely as possible, the company revealed.

Like Verizon, AT&T is also providing similar services to keep Californians connected.

For customers in affected areas, AT&T is offering unlimited talk, text and data through to 6 February 2025, and waiving charges for wireline orders placed through 7 January 2026

Meanwhile, AT&T teams are also deploying and refuelling generators to sustain wireless and wireline communications amid widespread commercial power outages that have disrupted home phone and internet services.

The company is also staging yards with extra network equipment and generators, whilst AT&T’s meteorology team is providing forecasts to guide their response efforts, especially in areas still impacted by the fires.

AT&T’s FirstNet Response Operations Group™ is also supporting first responders with portable equipment to ensure they stay connected on the front lines.

T-Mobile has restored about half of the sites impacted by power outages and is continuing to deploy portable generators at sites in areas like Altadena, Duarte, Calabasas, Malibu, Fillmore and Agoura Hills until commercial power is fully restored.

Additionally, the telecoms giant has partnered with Starlink to provide emergency wireless alerts and enable 911 texting through T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service in affected areas.

The company also announced it is working with federal, state and local officials to ensure emergency communications are maintained by providing Wi-Fi routers at key incident command locations like Zuma Beach in Malibu and Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.

However, to assist local communities, T-Mobile is offering free Wi-Fi and device charging at select locations, including the Fremont & Huntington retail store in South Pasadena.

Finally, T-Mobile is also offering enhanced data plans for customers with Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, including increased high-speed data and hotspot usage.

In a LinkedIn post, CEO, Mike Sievert, said: “As we face these horrible wildfires in Southern California (and winter storms in other regions), my thoughts are with everyone impacted. Your safety is our top priority, and T-Mobile is here to help keep you connected and supported.

“Our teams have been working tirelessly – staging emergency equipment and strengthening our network – to make sure we’re ready for whatever comes next. Staying connected during times like these means checking on loved ones, reaching out for help, and staying informed, and we’re committed to being there for our customers, first responders, and communities.”

The technology giant has implemented SOS Alerts and Public Alerts on Google Search and Maps to provide real-time updates on the wildfires, including evacuation orders and safety information, which will be continuously updated.

Additionally, Google has introduced wildfire boundary maps to help users understand the extent of the fires.

Meanwhile, road closure information is available on both Google Maps and Waze, with Waze also providing locations of emergency shelters to assist those in need, the company revealed.

In addition to its technological support, Google.org, the company's philanthropic arm, is also contributing to relief and recovery efforts by providing funding and launching an employee matching campaign.

In a statement, Google said: "Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the greater Los Angeles wildfires. We have been working closely with local authorities to provide accurate and timely information through our products and services."

According to the technology giant, its main priority is the safety of its employees and partners, and, as a result it has a dedicated 24/7 operation providing real-time updates and alerts to inform operational decisions.

Meanwhile, the company is also partnering with a raft of organisations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and World Central Kitchen, to deliver vital supplies. These supplies, sourced from Amazon’s recently opened Wildfire Relief Hub, include wildfire mitigation equipment, personal protective gear, water, food and trauma kits.

Alongside this, Amazon announced it is leveraging its logistics infrastructure and advanced technology, such as AWS cloud technology, to provide situational awareness and aerial imagery to support emergency response efforts.

It has also donated over 6,000 essential items and is actively assisting first responders with wildfire-management equipment.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX announced it will offer free Starlink terminals to areas of Los Angeles affected by raging wildfires.

Musk confirmed the move via X (formerly Twitter), with the free Starlink terminals ensuring emergency services and affected citizens can keep connected, as unlike traditional telco services, which send signals through cell towers, Starlink connects devices directly to satellites in Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO).

Starlink is offering free service to those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.

New customers in the impacted areas can get free service until 10 February 2025, by purchasing a Starlink kit and selecting the "Disaster Relief" plan, meanwhile, customers who have already purchased a kit can activate it with the same plan.

Starlink is also helping emergency response teams by providing multiple kits for quick deployment.

Existing Starlink customers in the affected areas will receive a one-month service credit. If customers had cancelled or paused their service, they can reactivate it using the credit.

Those whose kits were damaged by the wildfires can contact support for a free replacement, the company revealed.

Spectrum is another company which has launched an initiative to support communities affected by the ongoing wildfires in California.

To aid residents, first responders, and emergency personnel, the company is unlocking over 35,000 Spectrum Wi-Fi hotspots in public spaces throughout the region, allowing anyone to use these services free of charge.

This includes individuals who are not Spectrum internet subscribers.

More to follow...