During a large scale MCI, what type of communication technology may be overwhelmed by sudden usage?

Mobile phones can become overwhelmed during a large-scale mass casualty incident (MCI) due to a phenomenon known as network congestion. During such events, a significant number of users may attempt to communicate simultaneously, leading to a strain on the cellular networks. As more people use their phones for calls, texts, or data services, the available bandwidth decreases, making it difficult for users to connect, experience delays, or even lead to dropped calls.

This situation is exacerbated in incidents where immediate communication is crucial for coordination among emergency services, as citizens may also be trying to reach loved ones or seek help. While other communication technologies like repeaters, mobile radios, and base stations are also important in emergency response, they tend to be better equipped or designed to handle high volumes of traffic in emergency situations compared to mobile networks, which rely heavily on their infrastructure's capacity to manage sudden spikes in usage.