A ‘Super COW’ at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds will help handle the extra cellphone call load this busy season
Barney Lerten
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — There will be plenty of friendly animals on display at this week’s Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo, but only one “Super COW” – and this tall addition is all about the cellphone in your pocket.
AT&T says it’s bringing its largest “Super COW” (Cell on Wheels) to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds for three events over the next couple of months, part of what the company calls its “effort to supercharge wireless capacity at Oregon’s major festivals this season.”
This mobile cell site will enhance connectivity for customers at three upcoming events. Along with the county fair, the mobile cell tower will help keep signals strong at the Reggae Rise Up Oregon music festival, August 29-31 and the Cascade Equinox Music Festival, Sept. 19-21.
“The Super COW helps keep people connected by handling lots of phone and data use at once, even outdoors — so visitors can enjoy a smooth and reliable experience all festival season,” said Suzanne Trantow of AT&T Regional Media Relations.
Fair & Expo Center Director Geoff Hinds told KTVZ News, “AT&T has had a COW on site for the last two years, but sounds like this one is an even bigger, better, more enhanced version.”
“When we reach full capacity on grounds, we can more than double the number of people in the area of Redmond, so cell service can sometimes be a bit spotty,” Hinds said. “So the COW provides additional service options for both fair attendees, as well as people in the local region.”
“No other cell company brings a COW or device on site,” the fairgrounds manager added, “but we do work with other providers, who increase their service in other ways.”