Alabama upgrades its wireless coverage at Bryant-Denny Stadium for 2012 season
Posted Sep 6, 2012
By Andrew Gribble | agribble@al.com
Alabama fans will have an easier time using their phones at games this season thanks to a newly implemented wireless system. (Jeff Roberts/The Birmingham News)
-- Tweeting, texting and downloading should be easier to accomplish at Bryant-Denny Stadium this season.
Ready for its debut at Saturday's home opener against Western Kentucky will be a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS), which promises to provide "improved wireless coverage, capacity and data speeds during peak network usage," according to a university release.
"The installation of the DAS at Bryant-Denny Stadium should improve the game day experience by enabling fans in the stadium to stay connected and share the incredible experience of a University of Alabama game with their family and friends via their mobile devices," Alabama athletic director
Mal Moore
said in a university statement.
To increase bandwidth, Alabama has installed 75 antenna locations throughout the stadium. The coverage area promises to be expansive, as surrounding streets, walkways outside the stadium, corridors, offices and locker rooms are within the signal's reach.
Verizon Wireless and AT&T will operate the system, which was designed by TE Connectivity. The company recently had its system deployed at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
The decision to enhance wireless coverage was adopted at a Board of Trustees meeting in February. Verizon and AT&T covered all of the construction and installation costs and will pay Alabama an annual license fee of $36,000.
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