why your mobiles didnt work on 7/7

[Peter W.]

I thought I would just let you know that the reasons your mobiles went down on thursday is that the current system for Police,Ambulance and fire that is being introduced is called Airwaves and this works via the mobile phone system, therefore as soon as a major incident happens the mobile companies pull the plug on the private network to release the band for the emergencies services. I know this causes problems as I tried to get hold of my oldest son who works close to the bomb that went off on the bus,but at these times I understand the need for clear communications between the services.

[Harry J Allstars]

I heard it has nothing to do with that but just due to the mass of people trying to get through crashed the system. I also heard that the networks were closed down due to the fact that the phones can detonate the bombs.

 

Now I don't know who to believe!

[Peter W.]

Harry, I was up there on thursday with my dog started 7am thursday and finished 7am friday, the mobile network does not work in the underground and my radio needs the vodaphone sytem to work.Many of our handlers have vodaphone and the contract they got from the police had the clause of allowing more bandwidth ie traffic during a major incident,hence the lack of availability for other users.

[The Truth]

Can we get Mikefleet's take on what caused the networks to go down....at least that way we can definately rule out one answer. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Jimmy]

Mikefleet wants to send all the networks back to where they came from.

[FleetFanatic]

Harry - both Peter & yourself are correct.

The bandwidth availabilty was increased for the emergency services & thus reduced for the general public.

 

This in turn meant that the networks jammed even quicker as people tried to call their friends or family.

[jc]

Using mobile phones to detonate bombs is indeed plausible, as demonstrated by the Madrid bombings of last year, and, it now seems, potentially, by Thursday's attacks, judging by the fact that the three bombs on the tube went off almost simultaneously.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Mobiles dont work underground though, JC - they have looked at putting mobile receivers into the system, but at present only a few stations near the surface have mobile facilities as I understand it.

[Harry J Allstars]

Not acutally true though Alan. I used to work at Tufnell Park in North London which is on the Northern Line and also the most deepest line I believe. Quite often I have been able to use my phone while standing on that platform.