The Secret World of Verizon’s Command Center

Have you ever wondered where your calls, texts, and web searches go when you hit that send button? Verizon gave 12News a rare glimpse inside its top-secret command center to show you just that. This command center is the “brain” of the Verizon network, the hub where all the digital traffic flows through, making it a crucial part of our daily communication needs.

Located inside a nondescript single-story brick building surrounded by a thick fence, this facility houses the intricate infrastructure that keeps our network up and running. Dave Nelson, the person in charge of its maintenance, emphasized the critical role this facility plays in our everyday lives.

Inside the building, layers of backups ensure that the network stays operational even in the face of natural disasters or deliberate sabotage attempts. From redundant power sources like massive diesel generators to stacks of batteries that kick in instantaneously, every detail is meticulously planned to prevent any disruptions.

The facility is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, power surges, and even lightning strikes. The building’s construction includes grounded window bars to mitigate any lightning damage. In the parking lot, you’ll find trailers full of advanced communication equipment known as “The Barnyard,” including mobile units like COLTs, COWs, and STEERs, ready to deploy in emergencies to boost the network’s capabilities.

For major events like the Super Bowl or the Final Four, Verizon has complete movable cell towers that can be set up to handle the additional load. And in case of a catastrophic failure at the main facility, there’s a duplicate building in another state ready to take over seamlessly.

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