VEA techs help restore T-Mobile service to Pahrump after snowstorm

Despite not being affected by the issue, technicians and engineers from Valley Electric Association, Inc. played a key role in restoring cellular connection to a carrier’s customers after a snowstorm knocked out service.

Pahrump customers of T-Mobile were left with limited to no service for several days last week after damages caused by recent storms.

Wireless customers had no service last week when the weight of heavy snow from multiple late-January storms collapsed an equipment shelter located on Mount Potosi.

Also damaged were microwave antennas, which help transmit cellular signals from Las Vegas to Pahrump.

VEA members began notifying the VEA of cellular issues on Monday, Jan. 30. Not long afterward, engineers from the cellular services requested assistance from VEA and Valley Communications Association, Inc. (VCA) in the form of a temporary fiber-optic line to replace the microwave units that were damaged by the snow.

“VEA engineers were able to provision a network path from Las Vegas to Pahrump and out to the main tower site at Homestead and Gamebird within 48 hours,” said Ken Johnson, executive vice president, Broadband Business. The new fiber-optic circuit restored cell service for those affected, many of whom are VEA members.”

VEA Chief Executive Officer Thomas Husted explained that he was happy the cooperative was able to assist those impacted by the outage.

“I’m glad our engineers and technicians were in a position to help our members who were affected,” Husted said. “Even though we’re not in the cellular business, we did all we could to help restore critical communications service to our members and other Pahrump residents.

“VEA’s investment in state-of-the-art fiber-optic systems proved to be a valuable asset to help members enjoy their communications services, even cellular services from a national company.”

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.