Carriers connect the RNC

AT&T is the Republican National Convention’s official communications, video and technology provider, and the carrier claims its investment in Cleveland has been significant. But inside Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, Verizon Communications operates the distributed antenna system that is helping to keep delegates and journalists connected. All four nationwide carriers are part of the DAS.
“This year’s political conventions are the most connected and reliable in history,” said Ken Sandfeld, president of SOLiD North America. SOLiD is equipment provider for the distributed antenna systems at both the Republican and Democratic national conventions this summer.
4-carrier DAS in Quicken Loans Arena
Verizon was the first carrier to invest in the arena DAS. The company has worked with SOLiD in Cincinnati, and in Cleveland the two partners came together again, working with CSI and Henkels & McCoy to deploy 76 of SOLiD’s DAS remote units throughout the arena.
Last year, as the Cleveland Cavaliers prepared for the NBA Finals, AT&T joined the system. More than 20,000 people attended the final game of that series last June.
After the basketball season ended, SOLiD said it upgraded the entire DAS, replacing its 1-watt remotes with 5-watt remotes. Then in the first half of this year, the team added radio support for T-Mobile US and Sprint. Additional zones were also added to the DAS to address foot traffic on the floor of the arena during the Republican National Convention.
AT&T’s investment in Cleveland
AT&T has installed LTE DAS units at Quicken Loans Arena as well as seven other downtown venues in Cleveland. Christy Moore, AT&T’s area manager for network process and quality at political conventions, told local media that observant Cleveland residents may notice the antennas.
“You may all of a sudden see a strange little stick, sticking up on the top of a light post, that wasn’t there before,” Moore said.
AT&T Ohio President Adam Grzybicki told regional reporters the carrier has also upgraded 165 towers in the area, and has added to its fiber footprint to support the convention traffic. Grzybicki noted the infrastructure will continue to serve the area long after the delegates have gone.
Follow me on Twitter.