Phone company issues advice ahead of possible storm impacts

Vodafone Ireland is mobilising to add resilience to its network ahead of Storm Kathleen, expected to hit Ireland tomorrow, bringing severe winds to the five counties under Status Orange wind warnings; Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Galway and Mayo.

With Met Éireann forecasting potential power line disruptions, Vodafone is actively deploying generators to key sites throughout the country. In the event of power failures, these generators ensure Vodafone can provide seamless coverage while the ESB works to recover from storm damage.

They are urging customers to plan ahead to ensure they can stay connected by:

• Ensuring phones and devices are fully charged before the storm arrives.

• Having a power bank charged up ahead of time.

• Selecting low battery mode and avoiding video calls or streaming during power outages.

• While the torch on your phone is useful, it's better to have a battery operated torch available to preserve your device's power.

• Before the storm arrives, see if you have a contact number for any neighbours who might be vulnerable, so that you can easily check in on them during and after the storm.

Sheila Kavanagh, Vodafone Ireland Network Director said: ‘’As the country braces for the impact of storm Kathleen, our dedicated network team is focused on minimising any disruption for Vodafone customers particularly on the west coast."

"Over the weekend we will continually monitor the situation and will quickly coordinate the restoration of any localised impacts to our service when safe to do so. At Vodafone, we understand the importance of staying connected. Rest assured, we are fully committed to maintaining the quality and reliability of our network services.’’