Christina Warren2013-04-15 22:15:39 UTCCellphone service in the Boston area is currently experiencing disruptions, following the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
Much of the service disruption seems to be due to increased usage. A Sprint representative described the situation to the Boston Globe, saying that "the network is blocking calls because the number of calls coming in exceeds the capacity.”
Verizon released a statement saying:
"Verizon Wireless has been enhancing network voice capacity to enable additional calling in the Copley Square area of Boston. Customers are advised to use text or email to free up voice capacity for public safety officials at the scene. There was no damage to the Verizon Wireless network, which is seeing elevated calling and data usage throughout the region since the explosions occurred."
AT&T tweeted:
Boston customers may have issues w/wireless voice & data service due to spike in network activity. Our Wi-Fi remains on at #BostonMarathon.
— AT&T (@ATT) April 15, 2013
Earlier reports also indicated that cellphone service in the immediate area may have been shut down by the police. This followed information from CNN anchor Chris Cuomo and others who reported authorities believe that the explosive devices were remotely detonated, possibly by a cellular phone.
Cellphones are frequently used to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Middle East. The trigger for a radio-controlled IED is controlled by a radio link and devices such as cellphones can be used to initiate the firing circuit.
To prevent further destruction, some countries take preventative measures to shut down or limit cellphone service in specific areas. In November, Reuters reported that Pakistan suspended cellular phone coverage in many parts of the country after a series of bomb attacks were triggered by mobile phones.
The Associated Press originally reported that service was deliberately interrupted in order to prevent the ignition of more explosives, but has since reversed its claim.
Mashable has been unable to confirm any deliberate cell phone jamming by the Boston Police or other authorities. Moreover, according to Chris Soghoian, a principal technologist and senior policy analyst for the ACLU, even if police did jam cellphone signals, that wouldn't necessarily stop an explosive from going off.
“If you jam the network, then it means that whoever is controlling the device doesn't get to choose when it goes off anymore," he said. "What you're doing is taking away their control; that might not necessarily mean that the device will stop working completely.”
We'll continue updating this story as it develops.
Image via Alex Trautwig/Getty Images
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