With A New Cell Tower On Highway 97, Somebody Will Have Better Service. But Which Company?

July 26, 2020

A new cell tower was recently constructed alongside Highway 97 about halfway between Highway 29 and Ernest Ward Middle. And that prompted dozens of NorthEscabia.com readers to ask  us which company will soon be offering better service along a stretch of Highway 97 known for bad service and dropped calls.

It turns out the news may be good for customers of two major cell carriers.

At 305 feet, the self-supporting tower already standing at 4050 Highway 97 will serve AT&T customers, according to Escambia County Development Review documents. There’s no word from AT&T on exactly when service from the tower will be turned on.

But Verizon customers may also be in luck. A development order was recently approved for a 140-foot Verizon Wireless monopole tower at 3571 Highway 97 near Hendricks Lane, about one half mile south of the new AT&T tower. The actual building permits have not been issued, and there’s no guarantee it will ever be built. But the Escambia County development order is valid for 18 months.

Pictured above: A new AT&T cell tower along Highway 97 between Molino and Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

17 Responses to “With A New Cell Tower On Highway 97, Somebody Will Have Better Service. But Which Company?”

  1. tg on July 28th, 2020 9:18 am

    Beulah land fill has been named Mt Trashmore.

  2. Jdub on July 27th, 2020 3:59 pm

    @DLo…I too live in Cottage Hill and the Verizon service used to be great out here; except the big dip on McKenzie Rd. So I understand what’re you are coming from. A few years ago something changed and we only get 1 or 2 bars for signal and drop calls often. Can only use internet on WiFi while at home. I called and spoke with them and got to engineering back when it all happened…they made me think I could get an extender but that never happened. I have heard that they dropped some towers which is why our service is so weak out here. At home I use WiFi calling feature on my phone to help minimize dropped calls. Ridiculous to pay more and get less service!

  3. Beulah land fill on July 27th, 2020 2:14 pm

    Has anyone noticed how tall the mound of garbage at the Beulah landfill has gotten. It’s become a tourist attraction. It looks like a mountain from the interstate but upon closer inspection you soon realize it’s a huge pile of garbage. Welcome to Florida. My question, is there a ceiling limit on how high the County can continue to grow this eye sore. In addition i was told it blocks cell tower signals which are directly south at Mobile hwy and Beulah rd. Phone signals were great in this part of the county until the dump heights have reached new heights. Just Curious

  4. Unhappy on July 27th, 2020 8:15 am

    It is very sad we have hardly no service at the north end.i live on hwy 99 an mayhaw an have one bar.the only time I can get service is 3 am in the morning.i can pay Bill’s an see anything.they could use my probably if it would help us up here for Verizon service.

  5. Called in on July 26th, 2020 11:25 pm

    Actually Verizon had 3-4 cell sites in our local area , I have lived at our resident for over 7 years & daily uses & access of same property for 10 years with perfect cellliar & data service until 3-4 years ago when I started to see decline . Repeatedly for years I called in was suggested software update , new phone , new battery &. Update & change all kinda of settings , no change for better . Multiple talks & unsuccessful attempts from WiFi’s extenders to suggested boosters.. all to be told by their their 2 tech department that they didn’t have a strong enough service , first they were uptadkng their towers I was in between 3 of them that was why I dropped calls & service would say 1x, 3g , 4g , LTE, all in a matter of minutes apart anyway on property or area. Last call teir 2 tech was told versizon dropped some of the tower leases in our area & that is why . I have been slowed to terminate service without a penalty as long as I turned in the phones. Well would be great if I had not invested money on equipment , would have to start over on equipment & start up fees , only able to do free phone promos with at&t if turn in an old device… either way a lot to get out of & change but guaranteed they would charge the $380 for service plans & features knowing they didn’t have service to offer but would not disclose that unless called certain amount of times with service issue complaint & their resolution step process . Hmm illegal , yes actually it is. But is there anything done about it no , called to speak with a supervisor release unlock equipment & wave fees as a Curtiss & lack of their compliance with a tower for service that is a breach to what they advertised or lead customers in our area to believe , was then told that employee with tech should not have disclosed that information. I ask why bc it will hurt your revenue they claimed information is not available , hmm funny that’s the only information that made sense & was truth told to us . I requested call by a supervisor & that employee let’s see & please send me their actual tower locations , that is actually public knowledge , she said not for customers to know . What ? Seriously ! Y’all might want to call them , they began to removed service this area at the closing of a direct retail store location, guess this area wasn’t as important or valuable enough to provide a strong consistent service only to mislead & collect revenue ! I have had Allrtel/Verizon 17 years always service in these areas was the number in leading for their services in many areas but not anymore! Y’all call ask for yourself!

  6. Good service on July 26th, 2020 3:50 pm

    @Amm the tower you are referring to on Molino Road is also AT&T – same as the one on Atmore HWY. it’s been a long time coming!! Hope it provides good service up here!

  7. GH on July 26th, 2020 3:17 pm

    To Amm, the tower on Molino Rd just west of Sunshine Hill is also ATT.

  8. jp on July 26th, 2020 2:29 pm

    For many years I used a Verizon Jet Pack until it didn’t receive a signal. Was told I needed a newer version. That didn’t work. Was told the new one needed upgrading, that didn’t work either.
    Have been using T-Mobile modem with outside antennas every since with acceptable internet service, but slow.
    My Verizon phone quit working since the first of the year, no signal.
    Got a T-Mobile phone and using WiFi could send and receive calls, until recently it kept loosing signal.
    Amazing since the new is under construction my Verizon phone get a usable signal, 1 bar.

    No one in the local stores can give any useful information as to what or why, anything!
    I understand that the antennas on towers are directional and signal strength can and is adgusted. Aparently the phone providers do not care about areas of few customers.
    I will gladly give AT&T a try. Anything but Verizon or T-Mobile.

  9. EWS on July 26th, 2020 2:26 pm

    Maybe it will work. I’ve complained to AT&T for over 3 years about the tower on hwy 29 at Mystic Springs Rd. At first they claimed nothing was wrong with it. Then almost 2 years later an engineer discovered the tower was only at half strength/power but they still couldn’t repair it. Then I learned it was set for total replacement but again nothing is being done.. how about do an article or two on poor service & bad customer service with AT&T & other providers. I’ll give you an interview & my records.

  10. Matt on July 26th, 2020 2:13 pm

    At&t towers are used by many companies including straight talk ,Cricket.as well as the Walmart service.So this should benifit a few diffrent customers,alot of prepaid carries ride on AT&Ts tower backbone.Glad to see they are getting better coverage in this area.

  11. EMD on July 26th, 2020 2:05 pm

    Will it cover the Enon/Bay Springs area?

  12. Amm on July 26th, 2020 1:16 pm

    What about the tower they installed on Molino Rd between Sunshine Hill and Hwy 99? Who does that one belong to?

  13. Well on July 26th, 2020 9:56 am

    There’s no doubt how bad verizons service has got in the northern part of the county.
    Reminds me of having Sprint. Just more expensive.

  14. DLo on July 26th, 2020 9:34 am

    They are definitely needed in that area, but I’d love to also see something from Verizon in the Cottage Hill area, I get 1 bar and have to stand near an external wall or go outside to keep from dropping calls. It used to be better, but something changed a few years ago.

  15. Barbara Agerton on July 26th, 2020 9:08 am

    Made me smile,reading that people wondering,who is that Tower going to help…… :)

  16. Trina Coburn on July 26th, 2020 9:06 am

    I have had AT&T for a little over a year. Hands down already the best service we have ever had traveling between Flomaton and Pensacola. First company to actually never lose service while traveling on Hwy 29.

  17. Brian on July 26th, 2020 7:57 am

    thank the lord, bout time