Verizon powers NORAD Tracks Santa for the 19th consecutive year
17 December 2021 - 1:30AM
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care as children around
the world eagerly await the arrival of Jolly Old Saint Nick from
the North Pole on Dec. 24. The elves at Verizon will partner with
the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as they have
for the past 19 years to provide a toll-free hotline for children
to track Santa’s whereabouts as he and his reindeer travel across
the globe to spread holiday cheer.
While Santa's bag gets a little heavier each year with the
latest gadgets and toys, the Verizon elves have lightened his load
when it comes to how children from around the world are connected
with NORAD volunteers. This year, Verizon has added more than
14,000 new enhancements to allow NORAD volunteers to take more
calls from good boys and girls more quickly, including: 5G cell
sites using mmWave, adding virtualization throughout the network,
and deploying lots more fiber, while using artificial intelligence
throughout the network.
“There is no greater joy at this time of year than to join our
partners at NORAD to bring the magical Santa tracking tradition to
life," said Jennifer Chronis, senior vice president, Public Sector
at Verizon. "The Verizon elves are honored to provide the nation’s
most reliable network on which NORAD can track Santa for millions
of children again this year.”
In addition to connecting and supporting the NORAD Tracks Santa
hotline and operations center, nearly 600 volunteers, including
Verizon employees and other government and corporate partners, will
come together to make the magic of NORAD Tracks Santa possible
again this year. Thousands of children will be able to contact
NORAD on December 24 for answers to important questions such
as:
- Where is Santa?
- When will Santa come to my house?
- Where is Mrs. Claus during the journey?
- What are Santa's favorite cookies?
- How many elves are helping Santa?
- Which reindeer is helping to lead the journey this year?
Tools to help track St. NickVolunteers will be
onsite in NORAD's call center. Here is information on the hotline
along with other methods children and their families are encouraged
to utilize to track Santa:
Phone: The toll-free hotline – 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) –
will be in operation for calls beginning at 6AM (Eastern Standard
Time) on Dec. 24. Program the hotline number into your Verizon
phone as “NORAD Call Center.” On Christmas Eve, have your child use
the voice command to call the NORAD Call Center, and enjoy NORAD’s
Santa Tracker as volunteers do their best to answer your child’s
pressing questions.
Online: On Dec. 24, families can also visit the NORAD Tracks
Santa website with links to several ‘SantaCams’ on NORAD Tracks
Santa’s social media pages that capture Santa’s flight through
various locations around the world. To experience the magic
throughout the day, visit the website www.noradsanta.org on desktop
or mobile for more fun activities. While Santa is in flight,
children can see his whereabouts, play games, learn about holiday
traditions around the world and dive deeper on how NORAD tracks
Santa.
For more information on Santa’s whereabouts, visit
https://www.noradsanta.org/ or track via Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, and YouTube. Be sure to also download the NORAD Tracks
Santa mobile app (Apple or Google Play).
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on
June 30, 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of
technology and communications services. Headquartered in New York
City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated
revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. The company offers data, video
and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and
platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable
network connectivity, security and control.
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Media contact:Geoffrey
Basyegeoffrey.basye@verizon.com(202) 748-1882
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