AT&T satellite COLT in Willits, California. Photo: AT&T.

To help customers and emergency responders stay connected, AT&T’s Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team is deploying numerous mobile cell sites, or Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs) and equipment to areas impacted by ongoing wildfires.

According to AT&T, it has deployed satellite COLTs to Santa Rosa, Willits, and the Napa Town and County Fairgrounds in Napa. The assets are being used to provide network support and for wildfire incident command responders. These satellite COLTs are mobile cell sites that link to the AT&T network via satellite and don’t rely on commercial power availability, the company stated.

In addition to deploying temporary cell sites, AT&T is staging and refueling additional generators and has deployed an emergency communications vehicle to Santa Rosa.

“Our highest priority is to ensure that our customers have the necessary resources to communicate with their loved ones and emergency services, and access important information during these difficult times,” said Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California. “Our teams are working closely with first responders to get our service up as quickly and safely as possible.”