Question: access to internet via phone during power outage [View all]

High winds a couple days ago caused a power outage to 25,000 people in Albuquerque, N.M.
My Wi-Fi modem shut down and I had not internet access via my laptop.

However I was able to access the internet via my cheap Motorola cell phone with no difficulty,
and could surf the ‘net’ with no loss of internet strength.

Others on a local forum have posted that they could not access the internet on their phones
and some were able experienced a very slow connection.

I suspect the differences may be some setting on my phone which I have turned on and they do not ~ but I don’t know what.

Any ideas or input ?
Thanks