Glendale-area stadium, hotels, convention centers get new hardware for big game
In the run-up to the biggest football game of the year, international telco AT&T has upgraded the distributed antenna system at the University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale, Ariz., while also dropping some 23 DAS and small cells to enhance fans’ connectivity.
The stadium is expected to hit its 72,000-person capacity for Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks; in preparation for the anticipated spike in data usage, AT&T has made numerous deployments.
Inside the stadium, AT&T techs upgraded the existing DAS to accommodate up to the three times the LTE capacity the system had during the 2013 football season.
The company has also dropped 13 other new DAS setups into nearby hotels, convention centers and other venues.
The deployment is further complemented by plans to add 10 so-called Cells on Wheels, essentially small cell towers, to provide even more data capacity.
“When our customers head out in the Phoenix area to celebrate and cheer on their favorite team, we want to ensure they have a great network experience no matter what they’re doing – whether that’s making a call, checking e-mail or sharing their favorite moments on social media,” Tammi Terrell, vice president and general manager of AT&T Southwest and Hawaii, said in a statement.
“Many of the network enhancements deployed in the greater Phoenix area for the big game are permanent and will continue to benefit customers afterward. It’s just one way we’re continuing to invest in our Phoenix-area wireless network.”
AT&T reps counted Phoenix-area investments into wireless and wireline networks at some $575 million between 2010 and 2013.
A DAS comprises multiple small antennas deployed in the areas of buildings with less-than-optimal connectivity. The antennas boost data and voice capacity in proximity to physical location.
