why can my phone have no reception but still say I could make an emergency call?
In: Technology
Numbers like 911 and other emergency numbers when dialled can use any network company/carrier to make the call. The nearest cell tower is used wether it is yours or not.
Because you have no reception with any of your providers antennas or any of its partner networks, but there are still cell towers nearby that aren’t part of your providers network that you’re able to use for making emergency calls as mandated by law.
I believe emergency calls can route through any network/any tower. So the call can not be made on your carrier but could be picked up by another.
Because of something called ESN – Emergency Services Network, a common frequency that all carriers use, and all phones have access to, even if you’re not using the carrier that the cell tower belongs to.
Source: work in the telecoms industry building towers. Just finished a huge project to modify towers to run the ESN even when there’s a local power cut. Basically put ruddy great battery packs in.
Are there spots in the USA where you can’t make emergency calls?
Latest Answers