When the powerful storm hits and the trees take down power lines, it can interrupt and eliminate Internet coverage just when it’s needed the most. But a new device will keep Wi-Fi connections up and running even when Mother Nature delivers her worst.
Now as a new safety option, Comcast has become the first internet provider to offer a solution for reliable back-up Internet connectivity with the launch of Storm-Ready Wi-Fi.
“It’s a device that works with a rechargeable, backup battery that feeds off cell phone towers that lasts for four hours. That’s more than enough time to manage during an average power outage,” explained Rachel Johnson, VP for sales for Comcast/Xfinity in the Twin Cities.
During a local power outage, the customer’s network automatically transitions to cellular back-up so they can continue the use of their Internet. Storm-Ready Wi-Fi is Wi-Fi 6 capable, with faster speeds, lower latency and increased bandwidth to power more devices in connected homes.
The interest in such back-up is strong in this year of unprecedented and unpredictable national disasters, with disruptive weather events that include hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves and destructive winds and accompanying thunderstorms.
“About 80% of power outages are caused by storms,” Johnson said. “Strange weather occurrences have happened all over the world and with that comes unpredictability when the storms come in.”
Power loss during storms interrupts Internet connectivity just when service is needed the most. That’s when users need to go online to connect for assistance or to gain critical information or when they are desperate to text loved ones and connect to seek help or to reassure them.
The Storm-Ready device double as a Wi-Fi extender at any time. It can deliver a strong signal to areas of the home that are hard to reach and where coverage is spotty. That widened signal can become an added safety feature and provide added reliability during severe weather.
“The cool thing is that if you and your family go to that strange corner of the basement during a storm, you will still have coverage even if you’re there for a while,” Johnson said.
Storm-Ready Wi-Fi is now available for purchase at the 16 Xfinity Stores in the Twin Cities. It can also be purchased online. The cost of the Storm-Ready Wi-Fi device and back-up battery is $252 or it can be purchased at a no-interest cost of $7 a month for 36 months.
NOTE: Sheletta Brundidge is a paid endorser for Comcast.