Make TBO Your Home Page| Subscribe To The Paper| Advertise With Us| Contact Us| Login| Edit Profile| Register
Sports
Email
Print
Cell Carriers Can't Avoid 'Call Blocking'
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: February 2, 2009
TAMPA - A Pittsburgh interception and 100-yard touchdown run proved too much for cell phone networks to bear.
AT&T, Sprint and Verizon and other carriers suffered "call blocking," delayed text messages and other glitches around Raymond James Stadium as each big play turned the tide of the game.
The strains began as kickoff neared and the Air Force Thunderbirds circled for their fly-over.
"All those red X's on my screen, that's stuff that didn't go through, said Dudrick Balsamica of Tampa, pointing at his Sprint phone.
It could have been worse.
To prepare for 200,000 people snapping cell phone photos or sending text messages, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and others packed the stadium neighborhood with extra antennas and routing gear.
Still, if people do as they have in past big events, the biggest traffic day could be today.
Rich Mullins
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online ©2009 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company. Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
