One of the most unique collegiate sports and entertainment venues
in the United States now has leading-edge cellular wireless network
coverage, thanks to a partnership between Syracuse University
and JMA Wireless that brought an innova ve 5G-ready distributed
antenna system (DAS) to the JMA Wireless Dome.
Formerly known as the Carrier Dome, the on-campus 45,000-seat
domed stadium is unique to the collegiate sports venue landscape
as it hosts both football, basketball and lacrosse games for the
Syracuse Orange, as well as many big-name entertainment acts
touring through the northern New York state area. JMA Wireless,
also based in Syracuse, took over the naming rights for the dome in
2022, during a $118 million extensive renova on that brought many
upgrades to the facility, including new seats along with roof and
scoreboard improvements.
The latest upgrade to the venue is one that will give a ending fans
an NFL-stadium type wireless experience with expanded coverage
including support for 5G signals, using JMA's Wireless DAS Pla orm
along with some new patented narrow-beam antennas from JMA.
According to JMA, the JMA Wireless DAS pla orm, a mul -band,
mul -operator architecture, was deployed at the stadium to address
connec vity challenges that were facing the previous system, which
had been in place for 10 years. According to JMA the upgrade
included installa on of 102 new 4G/5G-capable so ware-defined
radio units and 372 custom-designed antennas, significantly
increasing cellular capacity from 21 to 54 cell sectors. The new
network provides extensive coverage inside the stadium as well as
outside the venue, where fans need more connec vity to ensure
smooth cke ng and entry opera ons. The use of the new
narrow-beam antennas is essen al to mi ga ng interference
between antennas, JMA said.
"This is a truly transforma ve milestone in the life of the JMA
Wireless Dome, both for the facility and for every individual who
a ends an athle c event, concert or other ac vity at the Dome,"
said Jeff Rubin, special advisor to Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud
on esports and digital transforma on, in a prepared statement.
"Now, the 45,000 JMA Dome fans can share in a technological
experience that is truly state-of-the art, providing them with
connec vity on par with having a cell tower all to themselves. It's
an experience few will have at any other venue in the country."
Verizon customers will be the first to have access to the new
system's connec vity, with plans to bring aboard AT&T and
T-Mobile already in ac on. The new so ware-driven DAS
infrastructure, which can support future upgrades without
requiring hardware changes, includes support for the new C-Band
spectrum being used for 5G services by carriers like Verizon
and AT&T.
"JMA is proud to be part of the team bringing 5G to the Dome and
Orange fans," said Andrew Adams, chief opera ons officer at JMA
Wireless, in a prepared statement. "As members of this community
ourselves, it's special to know that the design and manufacture of
key system components were done right here in Syracuse. JMA's
advanced technology and design allows for easy capacity expansion
in the future, ensuring this high-performance system keeps the
Dome at the leading edge for many years to come."
Ar cle Credit: h ps://stadiumtechreport.com/feature/jma-wireless-
brings-innova ve-5g-das-to-syracuse-universitys-jma-wireless-
dome/
JMA Wireless brings
innovative 5G DAS to
Syracuse University's
JMA Wireless Dome
Interior of the JMA Dome during a football game this fall. Credit: Syracuse Athle cs
Talleycom.com
SHEET
QUARTER 4 2023
