Aug 13, 2008 10:31 pm US/Central
Can You Hear Me Now? Boosting Cell Service For RNC
(WCCO)
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Verizon Wireless said its putting cell towers on wheels in both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well extra towers on downtown hotels, at the Minneapolis Convention Center and the Xcel Energy Center.
CBS
In less than three weeks 45,000 visitors will descend on the Twin Cities for the Republican National Convention., and that has cell companies ramping up efforts to keep service smooth.
Cell phone companies have been planning for extra use expected during the Republican National Convention, especially from the 15,000 media members covering the event in St. Paul.
Verizon Wireless is expecting cell phone use to be up 33 percent during the four days of the convention. Data use that includes text and picture messaging and Internet may jump 150 percent.
"We invested $6.4 million in network improvements," said Karen Smith of Verizon. "We've concentrated most of the network improvements in the two downtown areas, and out by the airport and Bloomington anticipating those are the areas where there'll be the greatest increase."
Specifically, Verizon said its putting cell towers on wheels in both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well extra towers on downtown hotels, at the Minneapolis Convention Center and the Xcel Energy Center.
Sprint says it will place extra towers and build extra capacity at 15 Twin Cities' hotels, the Xcel Energy Center, the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Science Museum and the MSP Airport.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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