AT&T Beefing Up Cell Service in Superdome for BCS Championship

An example of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) antenna atop a light pole. Credit: Sidecut Reports.


In order to make sure that BCS doesn’t also stand for “Bad Cellular Service,” AT&T is beefing up wireless coverage inside the New Orleans Superdome in advance of the Jan. 9, 2012 national-title matchup between LSU and Alabama.

According to Larry Lovell, a spokesperson for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, AT&T is currently installing what is known as a DAS, or Distributed Antenna System, inside the cavernous arena. A DAS is basically a bunch of small antennas that connect to mobile phones the same way as big cellular towers do. Historically used inside office buildings and convention centers, DAS installs are now becoming a way for cellular providers to overcome the bandwidth challenges created by the onslaught of tens of thousands of fans arriving at stadiums with their smartphones ready to connect. The big numbers of customers wanting wireless access typically swamps the few cellular towers near stadiums, making connectivity a problem during game time.

By placing a lot of small antennas inside the Superdome AT&T should be able to provide much better service to the expected packed house for the BCS title game. Using a DAS install to beef up stadium throughput is a tactic used by AT&T before, most notably at Cowboys Stadium for last year’s Super Bowl and most recently at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Lovell said the AT&T DAS install at the Superdome is slated to be finished by Dec. 23 and activated by Dec. 26, in time for a test run at the Sugar Bowl game on Jan. 3, 2012, followed by the BCS Championship the following Monday.

Though the Superdome already has an extensive Wi-Fi network, it is used for internal communications and services (like ticketing) and for media use, not for the general public. Lovell said the Superdome and AT&T are exploring the possibility of installing a public Wi-Fi network at a later date, along the lines of other AT&T projects at places like AT&T Park or Chase Field in Phoenix.

Lovell said the Superdome and AT&T are currently negotiating with other cellular carriers to give their customers the ability to roam on AT&T’s DAS network. The Superdome install would be just the latest in a long string of aggressive DAS projects from AT&T, including a DAS network currently being installed in and around the Silicon Valley city of Palo Alto. If all goes well AT&T customers in particular should be able to send all those texts, LOLs and photos from the game without a hitch.

Trackbacks

  1. […] is beefing up wireless coverage inside the New Orleans Superdome in advance of the Jan. 9, 2012 nationa…. According to Larry Lovell, a spokesperson for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, AT&T is currently […]

  2. […] a bunch of small cellular antennas hung inside the building to provide better reception. AT&T put a DAS in the Superdome ahead of the BCS championship, and has put DAS installs in other stadiums like Cowboys Stadium in […]

  3. […] a bunch of small cellular antennas hung inside the building to provide better reception. AT&T put a DAS in the Superdome ahead of the BCS championship, and has put DAS installs in other stadiums like Cowboys Stadium in […]

  4. […] events. The antenna seems to be a valuable part of AT&T’s ongoing arsenal of tricks to improve wireless coverage overall, which includes DAS installations as well as expanded Wi-Fi. For cell users at big events, […]

  5. […] the stadium also has an upgraded Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to help with straight cellular connectivity, the Wi-Fi network is the star of the show, and according to Morrison it’s all there to […]

  6. […] be watching the game online while they’re at the game live? Good thing the Superdome has a good network. Filed Under: CBS Sports, Live sports via mobile, NFL, Super Bowl Tagged With: CBS Sports, NBC […]

  7. […] in with their Super Bowl enhancements soon. The good news is, the Mercedes Benz Superdome had a pretty major DAS upgradeAn example of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) antenna atop a light pole. Credit: Sidecut Reports. […]

  8. […] Cisco; AT&T’s numbers are just for the cellular infrastructure and the DAS deployment Ma Bell put in the Superdome last […]

  9. […] Kapustka, P. (2011, December 15). AT&T Beefing Up Cell Service in Superdome for BCS Championship. Retrieved August 14, 2013, from http://www.mobilesportsreport.com/2011/12/att-beefing-up-cell-service-in-superdome-for-bcs-champions… […]

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