Why Doesn’t My Phone Have Service? Washington Inauguration Day Guide To Cells, Drones And Cameras In DC

Inauguration Day is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees to Washington, D.C., Friday for a swearing-in ceremony and parade celebrating President Donald Trump. An estimated 800,000 to 900,000 people are expected to attend the historic event and the number of people jockeying for service and Wi-Fi could disrupt cellphone service.

For those planning on attending, cameras and smartphones will be allowed for all the photos and videos you want, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. However, the use of drones will not be allowed, as “The District and surrounding areas are a no-drone zone.”

Cell service companies have been preparing for the major event for quite some time. Temporary cell towers will be erected in D.C. to accommodate service needs, according to WTOP. AT&T, for example, plans on using several temporary towers, aptly named “Cell on Wheel” during the inauguration events. In all, AT&T increased its service capacity by 400 percent for Inauguration Day. Meanwhile, in the area surrounding the National Mall, Verizon boosted its capacity by 500 percent and T-Mobile promised network improvements and 10 times the capacity.

Texting and messaging should be the best way to communicate. The crowds, however, could still slow down service and Wi-Fi, so exercise some patience when tweeting or posting photos to social media.

While there could be a chance that attendees could spot the occasional charging station, it’s best to come with a fully charged phone and perhaps a portable charger.

When it comes to ordering a ride-sharing service on your phone, take note that there will be a geofence surrounding the event’s security perimeter. Those apps will be rendered useless unless you exit the geofence.

Finally, if you’re hesitant about bringing certain things, the Inauguration Day website lists all of the prohibited items.