Bellevue-headquartered T-Mobile said its satellite texting service carried nearly 29,000 messages as Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii over the weekend, a real-world stress test for the carrier's satellite technology.
The company disclosed the figures as crews deployed portable generators on Aug. 16, to restore cell sites knocked offline by widespread power outages across Hawaii's three largest islands.
On Sunday alone, 6,200 T-Mobile customers exchanged more than 17,000 satellite texts, according to T-Mobile's newsroom. The T-Satellite service, which uses SpaceX's Starlink constellation to deliver basic text messaging and Text-to-911 when ground towers are down, also pushed Wireless Emergency Alerts to compatible devices in affected areas.
The response grew out of preparations T-Mobile began before Lala arrived. Senior Vice President Salim Kouidri said in an Aug. 14 press release that the company's teams were "preparing across Hawai'i so we're ready to respond quickly, support the people and organizations communities depend on and help keep Hawai'i connected through the storm."
Free service and on-the-ground teams
T-Mobile activated unlimited talk, text and data and waived overages for all Hawaii customers through Saturday, Aug. 22. The offer covers T-Mobile Postpaid and Prepaid, Metro, Assurance Wireless, USCellular, Mint and Ultra accounts.
Community Support team members deployed to Hilo on the Big Island to provide connectivity and device charging as recovery began. All T-Mobile Hawaii employees were accounted for as of Sunday.
For first responders, T-Mobile is offering 30 days of free T-Priority and T-Satellite access on unlocked, compatible devices, plus loaner equipment for agencies that need it. The company coordinated with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, CISA and county civil defense offices during the response.
Network self-repair
T-Mobile said its Self-Optimizing Network made more than 160 automatic adjustments since Lala began affecting the islands, redistributing coverage as sites went on and offline. Maui emergency officials identified West Maui as a priority restoration area because of its geography and key transportation routes.
Lala weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday after skirting Hawaii without making direct landfall, but hurricane-force gusts continued to punish the Big Island. At least one person died. Nineteen roofs were lost and flash floods swept several homes off their foundations in Na'alehu and Wai'ohinu, prompting a search-and-rescue mission.
T-Mobile has not announced a target date for full network restoration. The free unlimited service expires Aug. 22.
