AT&T to boost service for upcoming solar eclipse in Columbia
July 25, 2017
As thousands plan to converge in Columbia on Aug. 21 to enjoy the first solar eclipse to pass over the continental United States since 1979, AT&T1 will be keeping data-hungry crowds connected. We’re bringing in extra network support so customers can share this milestone moment with their friends and family.
Here’s how. We’re working on nearly 20 network enhancement projects around the Columbia area to prepare for the large number ofsmartphone users.
These projects – near area hotels, the University of South Carolina, SC State Museum (home of the SC Planetarium), Riverfront and Finely Parks, and other areas – will boost internet connectivity during the eclipse. This improved coverage will help our customers enjoy the fast and reliable connections they are accustomed to even as thousands of astronomy fans converge to these areas to capture the solar eclipse and share with their friends and family on social media.
“This solar eclipse will be one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments customers will want to share with their social network through texts, pictures, and videos,” said Pamela Lackey, president, AT&T South Carolina. “We’re working to give them great coverage and fast speeds.”
AT&T has the nation’s best data network.2 We continue to see increased data usage across our mobile network, especially at big events. In fact, data on our mobile network has increased about 250,000% since 2007, and the majority of that traffic is video.
At AT&T, we’ve invested more than $800 million in our South Carolina wireless and wired networks during 2014-2016. These investments drive a wide range of upgrades to reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and responders.
During 2014-2016, AT&T made the following investments in its wireless and wired networks:
- More than $120 million in the Charleston area;
- More than $175 million in the Columbia area; and
- More than $120 million in the Greenville area.
In 2016, AT&T made more than 2,500 wireless network upgrades in South Carolina.
By building out our 4G LTE network, we are laying the foundation for our 5G Evolution, the next advance in network technologies. We are increasing network speeds and capacity, as we continue to expand the availability and capacity of our network using the latest technology.
For more information about AT&T coverage, visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
1 AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
2 Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q2+Q3 2016 across 121 markets.
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For many people, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the Great American Total Solar Eclipse of 2017. The August 21 event will be the first total solar eclipse to cross the continental United States coast to coast in nearly 100 years. The path of totality will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. While all states will not be in the path of totality, where the moon will completely cover the sun, all of North America will be treated to this rare celestial event.
There are several ways you can plan for the eclipse and view it, and you need not look any farther than your smartphone. AT&T has compiled the following mobile tips to help ensure you don’t miss out on the biggest astronomy event of the year:
Solar Eclipse Timer: ($1.99) – This is the only “talking” timer app specifically for total solar eclipses. The app will get you into the path of the solar eclipse, and then with just 2 taps on your device, it will talk you through the eclipse. Voice countdowns guide you precisely to the 4 contact times of the eclipse. You also receive announcements at the proper times to tell you to observe for interesting things during the partial phases, such as the temperature drop, lighting changes, animal behavior and shadow bands. The app also tells you when it is safe to take your solar glasses off and then when you must put them back on. And, to practice on your photography for the big event, the app has a demo session that plays a totality movie synchronized with the timers.
NASA Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Countdown: NASA has created this website, https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/, to guide you through the eclipse. You will find a live stream of the eclipse, an interactive eclipse map, a list of official eclipse events across the country, eclipse science and education activities, such as making a solar viewing projector or a 3D printable pinhole projector, eclipse art projects and much more.
SkySafari 5: ($2.99) – SkySafari 5 shows you 119,000 stars, 220 of the best-know star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies in the sky, including all of the solar system’s major planets and moons, and more than 500 asteroids, comets and satellites. The sky-charting app can help you plan for the eclipse by previewing what you’ll see. You’ll be able to find out if totality will occur above your observing location, and when. The app can also help you select a site to view or photograph the event. You can even replay past and future eclipses from anywhere on Earth because the app simulates the sky up to 10,000 years in the past or future.
Total Solar Eclipse 2017: This free app from Exploratorium gives you access to Exploratorium’s live video streams of the total solar eclipse. You can tune in to 5 simultaneous video streams: live coverage hosted by Exploratorium educators and NASA scientists; live coverage in Spanish; a non-narrated, 3-hour live telescope view of the full eclipse as seen from Oregon; a non-narrated, 3-hour live telescope view of the full eclipse as seen from Wyoming; and a live telescope view with live musical sonification and accompaniment by the Kronos Quartet.
The Great Photo App: ($2.99) – You don’t want to miss getting the best photo possible of this amazing event – AFTER you’ve put on your safety glasses – and this app can help. The Great Photo App provides interactive photography lessons. You learn about lighting, exposure, aperture, depth of field, white balancing, and much more. You also may want to check out this web site, www.photographyconcentrate.com. It provides an extensive guide on smartphone photography.
