AT&T has improved indoor connectivity at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, ahead of the Super Bowl scheduled for February 2, the carrier said in a release.
The telco said it has upgraded its portion of the in-stadium Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and other network enhancements ? like adding 5G+ and Band 14 spectrum ? to provide over 300% more LTE capacity than what was available at the start of the football season.
AT&T said that this improvement means that the operator is currently utilizing?the most LTE capacity?currently available on any AT&T DAS in the state of Florida.
?The DAS, a system of strategically-placed antennas that distribute and actively manage wireless network coverage throughout the stadium, help evenly distribute coverage, creating a better fan experience. This capacity boost helps manage heavy wireless traffic and gives fans and first responders strong wireless coverage throughout game day ? from early tailgating to the final trophy presentation,” AT&T said.
The telco said that it has also improved wireless connectivity in other parts of Miami, which would help provide a better connectivity experience for people attending the Super Bowl.
?Fans and first responders will be able to enjoy improved coverage in hotels, arenas, airports and convention centers, among other venues through a series of network enhancements,? the telco said.
The carrier has upgraded or installed a new DAS at?29 additional locations?throughout the Miami area.
?We?re deploying?6 Cell on Wheels (COWs)?to handle expected increased wireless network demands. They will improve reliability and data speeds during the week leading up to and during the Big Game. These investments will allow Florida residents, businesses, visitors and attendees at the festivities to celebrate the Big Game over the AT&T network at home, at work or on the go,” the operator added.
The telco said that it has invested over $85 million in network improvements in the Miami area during the last year.
?Miami residents will continue to see the benefits of our enhanced network even after the game ends. Many of our network enhancements deployed for the Big Game are permanent and will continue to benefit customers and first responders in the city long after the champion is crowned,” said?Chris Sambar, EVP for technology operations at AT&T.
AT&T also has been making public safety-specific preparations to ensure the FirstNet communications platform is ready for the game.
The carrier said it had deployed its FirstNet Band 14 spectrum?across the area to provide optimal coverage and capacity for first responders.
?We look at Band 14 as public safety?s VIP lane. In an emergency, it can be cleared and locked just for FirstNet subscribers, further elevating public safety?s connected experience and emergency response,? AT&T noted.
The operator also said that it has installed metro cells at numerous local and federal public safety agency centers. These enhancements provide agencies with a direct network connection to the critical information they need, AT&T said.
?We?ll place three?FirstNet Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) outside of the stadium for extra redundancy and to provide additional coverage to first responders, if needed. We?re equipping first responders with FirstNet Ready devices to help ensure they have communications across the highly secure FirstNet network core,? AT&T added.
