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12/22/2023|Inside Verizon|Our Culture

Verizon’s top holiday secrets – revealed.

By: Cara Jurkowski

Verizon and NORAD partner to complete “no-fail” holiday mission.

Verizon this week revealed a 21-year partnership in communication and holiday spirit with a high-level government program. Headed by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the program has the singular purpose of shadowing just one target– a mission the organization has held for more than 65 years.

NORAD spokesperson John Ingle said, “We have a single, no-fail mission date on December 24 when Santa [Claus] begins his journey across the globe.”

The target, Santa Claus, is suspected to run a long-standing, worldwide toy distribution network. Claus’ operation targets children as well as adults known on the street as “true believers.” Though Claus does not accept cash payments, many involved provide cookies, milk and even carrots for his reindeer transport crew.

A partnership in global surveillance and communication

Verizon provides technology to bolster NORAD’s holiday tip line. Since 1955, NORAD has kept citizens informed of Santa Claus’ location on Christmas Eve. The “Santa Tracker,” was first activated via phone and later through an internet portal.

“Verizon [is] the link between us and the people looking to find where Santa’s at,” said Ingle. The hotline goes to a call-center at Peterson Spaceforce Base in Colorado Springs where more than 1,000 onsite and virtual volunteers take calls. Volunteers include Verizon employees, military personnel and other government and corporate partners.

“We also have the ability to answer [phone calls] virtually,” said Ingle. Last year, more than 130,000 callers reached out on Christmas Eve. Many callers reached the Verizon designed and optimized Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The intelligent solution can answer questions about Santa, his location, accomplices (reindeer, elves and Mrs. Claus), and more.

High-tech solutions from Verizon ensure top quality Santa monitoring

Because of the importance of NORAD’s mission, Verizon will ensure steady coverage by activating its C-Band spectrum. This will boost available 5G connectivity and give NORAD’s commercial network redundant Wi-Fi.

Verizon is also supplying NORAD with equipment to ensure that it never loses sight of its target. Technology includes Cradlepoint routers, Wi-Fi jetpacks, a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) solution, and Verizon Frontline mobile assets for onsite support.

Stay vigilant while Santa is on his run

Verizon encourages all citizens, especially children and their families, to stay informed as Santa goes on his run. You can do so in many ways:

  • Phone: Call 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) beginning 6AM (Eastern Standard Time) on Dec. 24
  • Online: Visit www.noradsanta.org on desktop or mobile devices
  • App: NORAD Tracks Santa is available for Android and Apple devices
  • Social: NORAD keeps you informed on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

V Team, go to Inside Verizon Intranet to join the conversation

About the author:

Cara Jurkowski is a failed standup comedian who made up for her lack of comedic success by spending the past two decades telling stories about the communications industry and the amazing people who work to connect the world. When she is not writing about Verizon, she lives in an unofficial Lego museum, slowly working through a steadily growing backlog of unbuilt sets at a perfectly acceptable pace.

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