ALMOST 48% OF THE CELL SITES IN THE DEVASTATED AREAS are now operational, according to data provided by the FCC on August 15, 2023. These two 120-foot monopoles in Lahaina appeared to have survived the firestorm that swept through the area. A spokesperson for Crown Castle said they are their structures, and the condition of the equipment is being assessed.
Since yesterday, when 90% of cell sites were out of service in six hard-hit cities on Maui following the deadly wildfire that swept through the island’s west coast, carriers have considerably recovered, with 48% of sites being operational today.
Ten out of 21 cell sites are in service, according to the FCC’s Communications Status Report of August 15, 2023. The agency said service in the impacted area is likely better since carriers have mobilized temporary facilities, and overlapping cell sites can provide additional coverage.
MAJOR LAHAINA CELL SITE HOTEL SPARED – The Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, a landmark hotel located in the heart of the city on Front Street, was one of the fortunate properties that escaped significant fire damage, although it lost power during the inferno that raced through the area destroying property around it. The Hyatt property’s roof, at approximately 90 feet, is used by multiple carriers’ antennas and equipment to provide coverage throughout downtown.
Most of the cell sites on the hard-hit west coast of the island were on top of buildings. However, the two Crown Castle 120-foot monopoles (pictured above) off Limahana Place in Lahaina provided extensive coverage for the major carriers.
Although surrounding apartment and townhome complexes and commercial buildings were destroyed, both structures remained intact, although they initially lost power. Carriers are assessing their base station equipment.
Several wireless companies have deployed mobile assets to Maui to support wireless services while cell sites are restored.
An AT&T cell site in Kaanapali was restored using an Emergency Communications Portable. The FCC said that 48% of all cell sites were operational.
Cable and wireline companies reported 16,700 subscribers out of service in the disaster area; this may include the loss of telephone, television, and Internet services.
Maui’s wildfires also severed fiber and wireline services on the island that are used to backhaul the traffic from their cell sites. The FCC said that it had granted Special Temporary Authority (STA) to AT&T to use microwave frequencies to backhaul traffic from five cell towers.
More than 2,200 structures have been destroyed or damaged by the fires – approximately 86% of them residential, according to Governor Josh Green.
With a little over a quarter of the burn area searched, Hawaii authorities said yesterday that the death toll of what’s already the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century still could rise significantly from the current 99 deaths.
Hawaiian Electric announced it had restored power to about 80% of its customers on Maui.