T-Mobile Works to Restore Hawaii Network as Lala Recovery Continues
UPDATED: The company’s efforts come amid a broader focus on keeping communities connected during crises.
Editor's note: This story has been updated.
August 26, 2026 – T-Mobile said that it had restored connectivity across the areas impacted by Tropical Storm Lala in Hawai'i.
"Teams continue working through a small number of remaining restoration needs, many dependent on commercial power returning, while overlapping coverage from nearby sites is helping keep customers connected," the company said in an August 20 update.
Throughout the storm and recovery, T-Mobile said that it used its T-Satellite service to give customers another way to reach family and loved ones when terrestrial connectivity wasn’t available.
Previously, T-Mobile had been working to restore network service across Hawaii as communities recover from Lala, with widespread power outages affecting cellular sites across the state.
The company said Aug. 16 that most of the network disruptions were tied to commercial power outages rather than damage to its cell sites. T-Mobile crews were working to restore affected sites while deploying portable generators to keep network equipment operating where power remained unavailable.
The carrier said it had additional generators on the way and was using overlapping network coverage to help maintain service when individual sites were offline. T-Mobile’s network optimization system also made more than 160 adjustments as conditions changed and sites became available or unavailable.
T-Mobile was also using its T-Satellite service to help customers stay connected in areas where traditional cellular coverage was affected. The service allows compatible phones to connect with satellites when a cellular connection is unavailable.
Alongside the network recovery work, T-Mobile temporarily expanded service for customers affected by the storm. The company provided unlimited talk, text and data and waived overages for eligible customers in Hawaii through Aug. 22.
The measures were available to T-Mobile customers as well as customers of Metro, Assurance Wireless, UScellular, Mint and Ultra.
T-Mobile said its teams would continue working with local partners and monitoring conditions as recovery efforts continued across the islands.
As T-Mobile continues its recovery efforts in Hawaii following Hurricane Lala, the company is also responding to other communities facing natural disasters. In the Reno-Sparks area, T-Mobile teams are working to keep customers, first responders and communities connected during the Hawk Fire, providing access to critical communications and resources.
Correction: A version of this article published early in the day on August 26 said that the T-Mobile was working to restore connectivity. The article has been corrected to note that the company said connectivity was restored on August 20.
