Eliminating Slow Data at the Final Four Tournament

The Customer

When fans enter a busy stadium to cheer on their team or enjoy a concert they will typically connect with multiple wireless systems that require high-speed cellular data– and all those interactions rely heavily on the ability to send and receive data in real-time. The 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, a major event on the sports calendar, faced significant challenges providing adequate 5G Ultra Wideband (UWB) connectivity for mobile users within their secured entryway. This case study highlights the successful resolution of slow data and bad cell service that can arise in large crowds or at events. With the deployment of the Verizon-approved  SpeedLink 5G C- band UWB signal booster, we showcase the potential for similar solutions in other large buildings. 

The Problem

The extensive 65,000-seat venue is a concrete and rebar structure covered by insulated-steel panels that can block cell signals that originate outside the stadium. Even though 4G LTE frequency bands (sub 3.5MHz) were available, there wasn't enough capacity on those bands to consistently receive and transmit data. The existing network infrastructure was found to be insufficient so tech leaders were in search of an enterprise-grade system that quickly increased 5G coverage and capacity inside the building. Their major challenges were:  

1. Weak cellular service limited communication inside the facility which was slowed down further due to the number of active users, overload issues, and limited capacity. 
2. High-speed 5G Ultra Wideband cellular coverage was required and without the availability of fiber backhaul. 
3. A quick deployment time was necessary to install the system in a few days.

The Solution

To solve these issues, technology professionals at the stadium partnered with SureCall to deploy the high- performance SpeedLink 5G booster system to deliver ultra-fast data speeds, increased capacity, and 5G connectivity for a high volume of users. In the days leading up to the event, these tech leaders worked closely with SureCall to install and test the new system.

The Results 

Operational technology (OT) organizations, whether manufacturers or infrastructure providers, often have hundreds or even thousands of devices on site. A recent report by McKinsey estimated that some energy installations have as many as 30,000 connected devices².

Many of those devices may also contain smart, connected components including variable frequency drives, industrial switches, programmable controllers, industrial PCs, and so on. All these components may also have their own software and hardware.

Even smaller installations, including ones with relatively small production environments, may have hundreds of OT devices, unmapped and unmanaged. And if even one of these devices is running out-of-date software and that leads to a data breach, operational outage, or other significant problem, that’s a potential breach of NIS2, and subsequential fine.

How to mitigate risk and stay on the right side of NIS2 

SureCall’s SpeedLink 5G was instrumental in providing an exceptionally strong, reliable signal for Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network and successfully resolved the frustrating issue of poor data signals. A signal booster like SpeedLink 5G is crucial for high-traffic venues, places that expect large crowds, and large buildings to increase network coverage, cell service and improve high-speed data signals when there are hundreds of mobile users all accessing their smartphones at the same time. Mobile users at the Final Four tournament enjoyed:

• Significantly enhanced 5G Ultra Wideband coverage 
• Dramatically increased data speeds up to 900 Mbps 
• Seamless 5G cellular connectivity and capacity

SureCall’s SpeedLink 5G signal booster extends 5G Ultra Wideband signals into large spaces to fill coverage gaps, increase 5G network capacity, and deliver ultra-fast data speeds up to 1 Gbps without fiber. SpeedLink 5G is a Verizon C-band UWB compatible system that is also capable of boosting the wider C-band spectrum to cover multiple carriers. It includes industry-leading SureCall Cloud IoT remote monitoring and control for offsite management and optimization.

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Article Source: SureCall