Mobile Operators Say Inauguration Will Tax Systems, Provide PR Fodder

from the no-i-can't-hear-you-now dept

Tue, Dec 16th 2008 7:56pm — Carlo Longino

Apparently there are going to be a lot of people in Washington, DC, next month, for Barack Obama's inauguration. With up to 4 million visitors coming to DC, a city with a population of 1.1 million, there's the potential for a logistical mess. But at least one group is getting out ahead of things: the nation's wireless operators, which want to assure everybody that they're beefing up capacity ahead of the event... just like they do before every Super Bowl and other events where there are predictable swells in network traffic. So, even if you aren't traveling to Washington for the inauguration, rest assured that the country's operators are looking out for you, just in case. And, of course, that they're not missing out on any chance for some PR -- even if it really just highlights their own capacity limitations. One question, though: will any of them come back after the event to detail just how many calls didn't go through on their networks during the inauguration because of capacity constraints?

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: capacity, inauguration, mobile operators

7 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Anonymous Coward, 17 Dec 2008 @ 12:46am

until i read this part >>> One question, though: will any of them come back after the event to detail just how many calls didn't go through on their networks during the inauguration because of capacity constraints?

I was confused why you have this article, its not like TechDirt to sound like a press release.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mike (profile), 17 Dec 2008 @ 1:18am
  
  Re:
  I was confused why you have this article, its not like TechDirt to sound like a press release.
  
  Perhaps Carlo was too subtle, but I thought the point he was making was to ridicule the carriers for making their own capacity failings a press release event.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 17 Dec 2008 @ 6:11pm
    
    Re: Re:
    i guess we got used to your style mike.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Just Another Moron in a Hurry, 17 Dec 2008 @ 5:59am

Capacity Failings?
Why is this classified as a Capacity Failing? If the D.C. area normally has only 1.1 million users, and they are handling that population without significant failed call attempts, is that really a failing? If the carriers are boosting their capacity to handle a predicted boost in population, is that really a failing? Without some actual numbers comparing the % of failed calls before and after the population boom, this sounds like good business to me. To meet the growing demands of your customers as they need it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
DC resident, 17 Dec 2008 @ 2:21pm

DC's population is nowhere near 1.1 million. Its around 200K.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Susan, 2 Jan 2009 @ 8:14pm

Car Insurance
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Susan

http://www.car-insurance-choices.com
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Future generali, 1 Feb 2009 @ 9:54pm

Car Insurance
Thanks for posting this, any info on the subject, positive that is, will help people understand more about this subject.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]