Note that I used the words "usually do not have their own generators" for
cell sites. The decision usually depends on where the cell is located, the
reliability/history of the local power company (Florida Power and Light had
one of the worst records in the country due to mostly to lightning strikes
and given that the entire state is flat and pretty much just above sea
level), the volume and nature of the user traffic that the cell serves.

The bottom line here is usually money. There are hundreds of cell sites for
each major metropolitan area and equipping all with generators gets very
expensive. These generators affect both CAPEX and OPEX for the Telco since
they need regular maintenance to keep them operational, even if they never
get used. These costs then get handed down to consumers via the operator's
rates. In the competitive cellular phone industry, it is all about
retaining and attracting new customers, so unlike the old monopolistic Telco
days where everything was overengineered, some carriers of today are willing
to take these risks.

Bob

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
...
Then those locomotive sized generator/diesel tanks at some cell sites
around here are mirages? They claim to hold a full week's worth of
fuel. I was going to post a link with a sat photo, but they have built
a roof over them.
http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&rls=GWYA,GWYA:2006-31,GWYA:en&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=
The site is one building top the right of the one Google points to, but
you can see the tower in the center of the complex. The two gensets were
behind, and slightly to the left. They were installed about 10 years
ago. Other cell sites in Florida made it three weeks without going
down, because of generators. They were badly overloaded, but they were
up and running.

Around here, its is the other way around. They usually HAVE a
generator because they need one . Gas stations are starting to either
install a generator, or at least a transfer switch and connector for a
large portable generator. 98% of the stations had fuel they couldn't
pump.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida