Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile take on California wildfiresVerizon, AT&T and T-Mobile take on California wildfires

As first responders continue to battle the wildfires in California, the nation's three major wireless carriers have launched initiatives to maintain wireless and satellite connectivity to residents and emergency service providers.

Kelsey Ziser, Senior Editor

January 13, 2025

3 Min Read
California wildfire
(Source: Matthew Smith/Alamy Stock Photo)

Since last Tuesday, the wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least ten people, destroyed tens of thousand of acres and thousands of structures, and resulted in a damage and economic loss between $60 and $130 billion, according to CBS News.

As firefighters and first responders continue to battle the wildfires, the nation's three major wireless carriers have launched initiatives to provide residents with access to Wi-Fi and charging stations, deploy temporary mobile assets and prioritize connectivity to emergency responders.

Here's a look at each carrier's response to the wildfires:

Verizon

Verizon said the company is waiving domestic call/text/data usage incurred between January 9 to January 18 for prepaid and postpaid consumer and small business customers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura Counties.

As of Sunday, the service provider said it had restored a majority of the sites impacted by the wildfires, windstorms and public safety power shutoffs. Verizon's crews are sending temporary mobile assets to support fire base camps and portable generators to address coverage gaps from commercial power loss. Verizon has over 550 mobile assets and about 300 satellite-based assets.

Verizon mobile asset.

Residents can also access free charging and Wi-Fi at Verizon stores. A generator-powered mobile unit, the Wireless Emergency Communication Center (WECC), has been deployed to provide device charging, Wi-Fi and cellular access to connect with friends and family. Wi-Fi and charging stations are also available at American Red Cross Shelters.

Related:2024 in review: When disaster strikes, the network persists

In 2024, the Verizon Frontline emergency response team provided nearly 2,000 Verizon Frontline solutions to fire camps in 14 states to provide public safety agencies with voice and data services during wildfires.

AT&T

AT&T is also prioritizing first responder communications via its public safety network, FirstNet. The operator is waiving overage charges to postpaid and prepaid customers in affected areas to deliver unlimited talk, text and data services to wireless customers through February 15.

The service provider has deployed mobile assets and is delivering connectivity via satellite as well. Several Wi-Fi and charging stations are available at locations in Los Angeles and Pasadena. Generators have been deployed to support power to AT&T's cell sites.

AT&T mobile asset.

AT&T donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross and is matching 100% of employee charitable contributions to the California Fire Foundation, the LA Fire Department Foundation, the California Community Foundation (CA Wildfire Recovery Fund) and the American Red Cross.

Related:T-Mobile dedicates 5G network slice to first responders

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is providing unlimited talk, text and data to T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Assurance Wireless customers in areas impacted by the wildfires, if those customers don't already have unlimited service. The un-carrier said it has increased data allotments for Mint and Ultra Mobile customers.

The operator has deployed mobile assets to support impacted areas including Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs), Satellite Cell on Wheels (SatCOWs) and Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), which are satellite dishes that provide temporary wireless service. T-Priority, T-Mobile's first responder service, and Wireless Priority Service are available to first responders to provide 5G connectivity and prioritize their communications.

T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service provides basic texting, which includes messages to 911, and provides wireless emergency alerts in affected areas. For its own part, Starlink is offering free service until February 10 for new customers and a one-month service credit to existing customers in affected areas.

Free relief supplies, Wi-Fi and charging stations are available at a number of T-Mobile stores and other locations.

About the Author

Kelsey Ziser

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Kelsey is a senior editor at Light Reading, co-host of the Light Reading podcast, and host of the "What's the story?" podcast.

Her interest in the telecom world started with a PR position at Connect2 Communications, which led to a communications role at the FREEDM Systems Center, a smart grid research lab at N.C. State University. There, she orchestrated their webinar program across college campuses and covered research projects such as the center's smart solid-state transformer.

Kelsey enjoys reading four (or 12) books at once, watching movies about space travel, crafting and (hoarding) houseplants.

Kelsey is based in Raleigh, N.C.

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