Tillman Digital Cities (TDC), the US network infrastructure startup founded by telecoms magnate Sanjiv Ahuja, is to provide a neutral-host distributed antenna system (DAS) to Penn Entertainment, to provide all of its casinos and hotels with LTE and 5G connectivity, and drive its strategy to go “cordless, cashless, contactless”.
TDC is a developer and operator of in-building connectivity infrastructure and solutions in the US. It has deployed neutral host DAS infrastructure at multiple locations, including Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas and Argosy Riverside Casino in Missouri.
New York based Tillman Digital Cities was set up in 2020 by former Orange chief executive Ahuja, as a portfolio company of Tillman Global Holdings (TGH), which also owns or has stakes in U.S. cell tower operator Tillman Infrastructure, Myanmar-based neutral-host tower operator Apollo Towers, Africa-based tower company Eaton Telecom, and small-cell infrastructure provider JC Decaux-Link.
TDC firm designs, leases, and sells in-building networks to network operators, real estate owners, and enterprise customers. TGH claims to have “developed” over 6,000 cell towers in 20 countries, worth $5 billion in capital outlay; it works with sundry tier-one mobile operators. TDC is using an LTE/5G DAS platform from US outfit Solid (‘SOLiD’); the new neutral host network infrastructure will support all operators as well as FirstNet.
Deployments are so far live at the Hollywood Casino in and Argosy Riverside Casino. Penn Entertainment operates 44 properties in 20 states; it owns the Hollywood Casino, L’Auberge, Barstool Sportsbook, and Score Bet brands. Carlos Figueroa, vice president of infrastructure at Penn Entertainment, said: “We’re committed to enhancing every guest experience… [We will] offer exceptional hospitality and consistent, best-in-class connectivity to our guests.”
Joel McIntyre, chief operating officer at TDC, said: “We’re excited to partner with Penn Entertainment and bring our top-of-the-line connectivity to all of their locations across the US. TDC’s solutions for connectivity enable Penn Entertainment to better serve their employees and guests, creating a more seamless digital experience.”
Scott Deweese, senior vice president and general manager at SOLiD Americas, said: “Seamless connectivity is the lifeblood of today’s hospitality experience, and we are gratified to support TDC in the delivery of this amenity for Penn Entertainment’s patrons.”
