Portable hotspots arrive in Maui to bring internet to residents and tourists

Portable mobile hotspots have arrived in Maui (HI) to help bring internet service to the thousands of people who may have been unable to call for help since the wildfires started to rage out of control on the island. Verizon is currently deploying the first batch of satellite-based mobile hotspots at evacuation sites in areas of greatest need, particularly the west side of the island, west of Maalaea, Lahaina, and Northern Kapalua. Verizon’s larger equipment, which is being barged over from Honolulu, is expected to arrive later. This includes Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs) — a mobile site on wheels that connects to a carrier’s service via a satellite link — and a specialized satellite trailer used to provide service to a cell site that has a damaged fiber connection. Verizon is working closely with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the Maui County Emergency Operations Center to prioritize its network recovery. Other carriers continue to mobilize their efforts, too. AT&T is working with local public safety officials to deploy (Satellite Cells on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs), drones with cell support, and other solutions across the island, as equipment comes in from neighboring islands. Meanwhile, a T-Mobile spokesperson said its cell sites are “holding up well during the fires” but commercial power outages may be disrupting the service for some customers.