While it may seem logical that no power equals no cell service, the reality is that cell providers have taken steps to keep service up.
As power outages continue across parts of California, there are multiple comments online right now that look like this: “your cell phone won’t work if the power goes out at the cell towers, and it will.”
That claim sounds like common sense, right? If the cell towers lose power they can’t function. But is that actually true?
Before you throw your phone into airplane mode to save power, read what we found out.
Will people who lose their power in the California outages also lose cellphone service?
THE ANSWER:
Not exactly. It turns out that many of the providers have backup systems in place or operate emergency generators to make sure that service is still available.
WHAT WE FOUND:
In recent years with fires across the state, the California Public Utilities Commission urged cell providers to install backup power in high-risk locations.
And many of them did that.
A Verizon representative told VERIFY that many of their towers have backup generators and battery systems.
"Verizon is prepared to keep customers connected during any disruption in commercial power.
"Verizon's network reliability is based on having a comprehensive backup power strategy should commercial power be lost due to an emergency or extreme weather. We have generators and backup batteries at the majority of our cell sites (towers) and all of our switch locations (network nerve center) to keep our network up and running if commercial power is lost. And we are able to refuel our generators to keep them running. Having this backup to our backup plan is critical to our strategy. This ensures our network can continue serving customers indefinitely until commercial power is restored.”
A T-Mobile representative said the carrier has backup generators too and would be operating mobile teams to augment service in certain areas. They also provided a statement.
An AT&T representative told VERIFY that they were working to get backup generators in place.
“Like all PG&E customers, we are also affected by this power shutdown. Overall our network continues to perform well. We are aware that service for some customers may be affected by this event and are working as quickly as possible to deploy additional generators and recovery equipment. To keep our wireless and prepaid customers in areas directly affected by the planned power outage connected during this difficult time, we’re providing unlimited talk, text and data,” they said.
And Sprint sent a press release as well. They said they also had backup generators, and would be providing portable ones to locations that didn’t.
BOTTOM LINE:
Don’t just assume you won’t have service. The idea that all cell towers will shut down without power is actually false. The major providers have generators and backup plans to keep service.
That’s an important distinction. Without power, and without service, people may be tempted to turn their phones off or put them in airplane mode to conserve battery.
That’s still a good idea if you can’t charge your phone, but also check periodically to see if you do have service and make sure there aren’t any alerts or warnings for your area.
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FAQs
Cell service may be temporarily lost or degraded in some areas during a power outage. Most cellular carriers have backup generators or batteries to keep towers operational even when the local power grid goes down, but recent experience has shown that coverage can be spotty.
Why doesn't my cell phone work when the power goes out? ›
"It's normal to lose cell signal during power outage. Everyone is affected, as the tower doesn't have a generator, and only has a battery. When there's an outage, the system will prioritize emergency calls (911 or 411 ect...) There is not much we can do to improve it."
Does cell phone work without electricity? ›
In order to work, phones require six to 12 volts at around 30 milliamps. Because they run on minimal power, the phone company has enough generators and batteries to make sure they continue to operate.
Can cell towers go down? ›
Cell towers have batteries and backup generators that run on diesel, propane. However, they don't work well or not at all when power suddenly goes out.
What happens if your phone service is off? ›
Why your phone shows a "No Service" message. If you're getting this message on your phone it means that your device cannot find a signal from your cellular carrier. This prevents you from making calls, sending texts, and other normal functions.
What affects cell phone signal in house? ›
Building materials in your house, workplace, or run-of-the-mill shopping mall are the main culprits for weaker cell signal in America. Cellular signals have a hard time penetrating metal, tinted low-E glass, concrete, and many other materials, which could be why your signal is so bad.
Why do I lose internet when power goes out? ›
For your internet to function properly, your router, ONT (optical network terminal), and any devices you want to use must all be connected to a power source, or in the case of laptops, have a charged battery. During an outage, this is usually a battery backup, also known as an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).
Why do phone lines work when the power is out? ›
The corded landline phones don't require electricity to run. Landline services offer enough current through copper cables to power your wired phone. This means if you have a wired landline phone, it'll keep working when the power runs out, without needing a power backup.
Why does my phone turn off and wont turn back on? ›
If you see a red light, your battery is fully discharged. If the red light is flashing, there isn't enough power to turn on. Charge your phone for at least 30 minutes before restarting. If you don't see a battery icon or red light after you plug in your phone, the issue could be with your screen.
Does 5G work during power outage? ›
The limitations of 5G during power cuts
The batteries keeping towers online during power cuts don't get enough time to recharge. Mobile networks are also more exposed to battery theft and vandalism due to the prominence of the locations of their towers.
Living without a phone might seem difficult, but there are ways in which you can survive without one: Make plans with your friends and family in advance. This may require you to rely on others in the group to find a way of updating you if things change.
Do cell phone towers have backup generators? ›
Cell towers have batteries and backup generators running on diesel or propane to ensure they keep working, providing coverage even during power outages. The backup power for cell towers is vital for daily communication and becomes a lifeline during storms or emergencies.
Why does my phone suddenly have no service? ›
1 Your phone needs to be restarted. 2 You're in a place with bad cell service. 3 Your phone is in airplane mode. 4 Your phone isn't connecting to the best signal.
Why is my cell service so bad? ›
Adverse weather, interference from building materials or terrain, distance from your nearest cell tower, or network overload can all contribute to poor signal.
What happens to cell towers when the power goes out? ›
When a cell phone tower goes out during a power outage, it will run for as long as it has a backup power supply such as a generator or battery. The strength or stability of your mobile signal often depending on how many cell phone towers there are in your area, and whether or not they have a backup power supply.
Will my Iphone work during a power outage? ›
It will run as long as the battery lasts... Without power, there's no way to recharge. You may also lose cell towers in a hurricane and the phone won't work at all. It will run as long as the battery lasts...
Do power outages affect electronics? ›
Business and everyday life depend on electronics, making a power outage highly disruptive. On top of rendering many devices temporarily out of service, these interruptions can damage sensitive electronics, so protecting against them is critical.
