Achi news desk-
With Monday’s solar eclipse expected to draw tens of thousands to regions along the path of totality in Eastern Canada, major cellphone and internet providers say they are prepared to handle a surge in wireless traffic in those areas.
Cities like Niagara Falls, Ont., and Montreal have been bracing for an influx of tourists this weekend as people hope to catch a glimpse – through their special protective glasses – of the phenomenon on Monday afternoon. The rare alignment of the sun, Earth and moon means that other cities and towns in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces could also see unusually high levels of visitors.
“As with any major event that brings high levels of visitation to a concentrated area, it is possible that cell signal could be compromised,” the City of Niagara Falls said in a post on its website.
The city said it expects up to a million visitors over the next few days which is “by far the biggest crowd we’ve ever experienced.” In the post, local businesses warned that visitors may have emergency requests to use their landline phones if cell service becomes spotty.
But Canada’s largest telecommunications carriers say they have been preparing for the eclipse and are confident their networks will hold up.
Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc. said. and Telus Corp. that they would deploy additional infrastructure to certain areas to prevent any potential disruption. For Rogers and Bell, that includes using portable mobile towers, known as Cell on Wheels, or COWs, to increase capacity.
The companies also said their technical teams would delay routine maintenance which could potentially reduce service levels.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for many Canadians and we are preparing to cope with the potential increase in wireless traffic in communities along the path of integrity,” Rogers spokesman Cam Gordon said in a statement.
“We have also carried out network health checks, completed targeted upgrades and are optimizing sites to add more capacity.”
Bell spokeswoman Jacqueline Michelis said a dedicated team would be monitoring network performance throughout Monday.
“In preparation for the solar eclipse, our teams are putting measures in place to ensure the network continues to run optimally in regions where we anticipate large crowds will gather,” he said in a statement.
Improving network capacity through the use of portable cell sites is one of the most effective ways telecommunications companies can prepare for increased demand, said Manav Gupta, chief technology officer and Canadian technical sales team leader at IBM Canada.
He said Cell on Wheels “can quickly provide additional coverage and capacity where needed.”
“Providers will want to prepare for a surge in network traffic as a result of people using telecommunications services more heavily during the event by, for example, streaming the eclipse, sharing content on social media or making calls,” said Gupta.
Unlike its two biggest competitors, Telus doesn’t need to use Cell on Wheels, spokeswoman Jacinthe Beaulieu said. He said Telus has made “huge investments in our network” in recent years that will allow it to offer more capacity on Monday.
“Our infrastructure can support the increased number of visitors expected during the eclipse,” he said.
Beaulieu said Telus was conducting internal preparedness calls and was in contact with public safety and government officials leading up to the eclipse. It has a “contingency and crisis response process” ready in case of problems on Monday.
Quebecor Inc. said. in a statement that “the strength and robustness of our network should ensure continued wireless service” on eclipse day for all Videotron, Freedom Mobile and Fizz subscribers. But he added that he would monitor the situation before and during the eclipse and “intervene quickly if necessary.”
“Remember that the eclipse itself has no effect on telecommunications networks, unlike a solar flare which can affect airwaves and electronic equipment,” the company said in an unattributed statement.
“It should also be noted that the entire eclipse path will distribute potential viewing positions over a relatively large area, reducing the risk of network congestion. However, a temporary slowdown remains possible if larger than expected crowds emerge in some locations. “
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake said those in the area should “consider developing a communication plan with family and friends ahead of time, and make sure your phone is fully charged for the day of the eclipse.”
“If you use cash regularly or want some on hand, consider visiting your local bank or ATM beforehand,” the town noted on its website. “Due to an increase in cellular traffic, some ATMs operating on Wi-Fi may be unavailable.”
Although telephone signals and internet connections are not directly affected by solar eclipses, which do not emit radiation or energy that disrupts electromagnetic waves, Gupta said they could cause “minor disruption” to satellite communications. This could potentially affect signals associated with GPS and, to a lesser extent, cellular networks due to atmospheric change.
“My advice would be, as with any significant event, to proactively plan for the worst,” Gupta said.
“Gathering data, developing a strategy, and preparing for any potential issues is sound practice no matter what the challenge or issue.”
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on April 5, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX: RCI.B, TSX:BCE, TSX:T, TSX:QBR.B)
Sammy Hudes, Canadian Press
With Monday’s solar eclipse expected to draw thousands to regions along the path of totality in Eastern Canada, major cellphone and internet providers say they are prepared to handle a surge in wireless traffic in those areas. Eagles fly past a partial solar eclipse in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, October 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Altaf Qadri
->
Ad blocking test (Why?)
Source link
Related
