Hurricanes, tropical storms and even severe thunderstorms can cause power outages.
You know the drill. (If not, here’s our guide to preparing for power outages.) Hopefully, you’ve planned ahead and made sure your electronic devices and portable chargers are charged. You then unplug any nonessential devices to prevent damage in the event of a power surge. You report the outage to your power company. You keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. You have flashlights handy for everyone in your house.
And unfortunately, your home Wi-Fi system won’t work without power. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have Internet access.
Customers of major mobile phone providers have the option of continuing to surf the Internet at home even if there is an Internet outage.
How Verizon customers can access the Internet
If you have Verizon, there are several ways to get online even if the power goes out at your home, said Winnie Wright, Verizon’s communications director for the Atlantic South market, in an email to The News & Observer:
Hotspot devices like Verizon’s battery-powered Orbic Speed Mobile Hotspot will continue to work as long as the core network infrastructure isn’t impacted. The company has generators and backup batteries at its cell sites to ensure connectivity even during power outages.
Phones with hotspots can be used to connect devices such as laptops and tablets to the Internet.
Any phone, laptop or tablet with a cellular connection has Internet access as long as Verizon cell sites are operational.
How much does it cost? Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate and Unlimited Plus wireless plans include hotspot data, 60GB and 30GB, respectively. The Unlimited Welcome plan does not include hotspot data, but customers on this plan can add 100 gigabytes of data for $10 per month.
If customers on unlimited plans use their entire monthly data allotment, they can add 100GB of data for $10 per month. If they choose not to pay for more data, they can use as much data as they want for the rest of the month, but speeds will be reduced.
How AT&T customers can access the Internet
Wind can damage antennas and hardware at cell sites, but a power outage is more likely to disrupt cell service, Ann Elsas, AT&T’s senior public relations manager for the Southeast, told The News & Observer in an email.
Before a storm comes, AT&T prepares its network as follows:
- Testing high capacity backup batteries at cellular sites,
- Distribution of extended battery life generators and portable generators as well as maintenance of stationary generators,
- Fuelling generators at mobile phone sites and switchgear,
- Placing generators in locations where they can be used after the storm.
After Hurricane Florence in 2018, AT&T sent trucks to the Raleigh area equipped with charging stations and Wi-Fi connectivity and, as conditions permitted, also made repairs and restored service.
When the regional networks are working, AT&T customers can access the Internet through their wireless device or a hotspot device.
How much does it cost? AT&T’s unlimited plans include hotspot data. The Unlimited Premium plan offers 60GB per line per month, the Unlimited Extra plan offers 30GB per line per month, and the Unlimited Starter plan offers 5GB of data per month.
When the data included in the plan is used up, customers can still access mobile hotspot data at lower speeds, suitable for texting and email, but not streaming. An additional 10GB of data can be purchased for $15 per month.
Hotspot devices, which offer higher data allowances than a cellular plan with hotspot data, have rechargeable batteries. As long as they are charged and the cellular network is working, customers can use them to access the Internet on another device.
How Spectrum customers can access the Internet
When power is lost due to a storm, utilities must first restore power and verify the safety of affected areas (in the case of downed lines) before communications personnel can begin restoring service.
A Spectrum spokesperson told The News & Observer in an email that Spectrum teams sometimes accompany utility companies into residential areas to make this process as quick as possible.
Spectrum customers on Unlimited and Unlimited Plus mobile plans have access to unlimited talk, text and data usage, but once they use a certain amount of data (30GB and 50GB respectively), speeds are reduced.
Both unlimited plans also include mobile hotspot data. However, once the customer reaches the 5 GB or 10 GB limit, depending on the plan, the internet speed is reduced.
Spectrum customers with the By the Gig data plan get 1GB of data each month and pay $5 for each additional gigabyte (regardless of whether they use the entire gigabyte or not), up to 5GB, after which reduced speeds take effect.
Unlike other companies, Spectrum does not offer hotspot devices that can connect phones, laptops and tablets to the Internet.
How T-Mobile customers can access the Internet
Like other companies, T-Mobile has taken steps to prepare its network for storms.
For example, the provider is adding permanent backup power solutions like generators and batteries to keep people connected. The company has also activated its new spectrum to increase coverage and capacity for nearly 60 million people in the US.
After storms pass, T-Mobile can dispatch its disaster response vehicles to supplement coverage and restore connectivity via satellite and microwave backhaul.
T-Mobile offers cellular plans and hotspot devices that allow customers to access the Internet.
The operator’s Go5G Next and Go 5G Plus plans include 50GB of high-speed hotspot data. The Go5G plan includes 15GB of high-speed hotspot data, and after reaching this limit, the customer gets unlimited data at reduced speeds. Customers on the Essentials plan get unlimited 3G hotspot data with the option to add high-speed hotspot data.
Depending on the plan, customers either receive unlimited premium data or a certain amount is included. After this time, slower speeds may occur.
T-Mobile customers can also choose to purchase a rechargeable hotspot device that allows them to connect multiple devices such as phones, laptops and tablets to the Internet.
Streaming, SMS, phone calls and surfing the Internet consume data
Different activities require different amounts of data, so if you’re trying to figure out how to make the most of the data you’re allotted, here’s what you need to know:
- Streaming typically consumes the most data, especially high-resolution videos.
- Surfing the Internet generally uses less data than streaming, but more than sending text messages or making phone calls.
- Sending text messages and making calls typically requires minimal amounts of data, but video calls may use more data than a text message.
- A good way to save data is to connect to Wi-Fi as often as possible.
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