TMS enhancing cellular coverage for fans with installation of country’s largest D-RAN system

By:
On:
In: Speedway News

Since joining the sport in 2004, Sprint has consistently provided a system of traditional mobile/portable integrated communication towers known as Cell on Wheels or COW system at Texas Motor Speedway to ensure fans attending the largest sporting events in the state have complete mobile service. 

 
Now, a new Distributed Radio Access Network known as a D-RAN system will build on the COW concept that Sprint pioneered and offer all carriers an even bigger opportunity.
 
Texas Motor Speedway has installed the largest D-RAN system in the state and among the most prevalent deployments in the United States to greatly enhance cellular-based services for its fans using Verizon service beginning with this weekend’s AAA Texas 500 NASCAR triple header.
 
This is the initial phase of the multi-million dollar project that was spearheaded and built by Verizon  and will only be available to the company’s customers for the AAA Texas 500 race weekend. Once the system is established this weekend, other major carriers will have the ability to be added to the D-RAN system in the future to give Texas Motor Speedway the most comprehensive coverage during race weekends with multiple carriers on board.
 
For the AAA Texas 500, other major carriers will continue to utilize the COW system. Sprint will have four COWs to enhance their service on the inside and outside of the facility while AT&T will have one COW situated inside.
 
“We constantly try to improve services for our fans and this will certainly help more fans’ ability to use their mobile phones,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “When you get the largest crowd to attend a sporting event in Texas together in such a large venue, it is a daunting engineering task. I can’t overstate what a massive undertaking this is but we want to do our best for our fans.” 
 
The Radio Access Network (RAN), part of a mobile telecommunication system that implements a radio technology, will have the ability to provide vastly improved coverage for mobile devices for a sports venue that covers slightly more than 84 acres, has permanent seating of nearly 129,000 and an overall capacity of nearly 182,000.
 
A total of 264 antennas have been added throughout the facility to boost cellular coverage in the grandstands, infield, concourse, suite level, Speedway Club, Fan Zone, Burnout Alley RV area on the backstretch and even west side parking. The network also will eventually extend to several of the outside camping areas.
 
The D-RAN system will have the ability to simultaneously handle more than 100,000 devices, which is four times greater reach than the current COW system used by facilities of this magnitude. The D-RAN allows smartphones, tablets and other devices to access the Internet, send text messages and quickly post photos and videos to social networking sites during large events at the venue using Verizon’s high speed 4G LTE network. 
 
In addition to the system being carrier neutral, other benefits of the D-RAN system compared to others of this nature is that it is a modular system that has the ability to be upgraded and adapt to new technology in the future.

TMS PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 67