AT&T Enhances Gameday Mobile Internet Coverage at Alaska Airlines Arena at HEC Edmundson Pavilion
New 4G LTE Distributed Antenna System, Which is Part of AT&T’s Project VIP Investment Plan, Provides Additional Wireless Capacity for Customers at Arena
SEATTLE, Wash. Feb. 13, 2015 — When a big play happens this season at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Husky basketball fans can expect to enjoy an enhanced mobile experience as they pull out their wireless device to share the most exciting moments with friends and family.
As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services, AT&T* has expanded its mobile Internet coverage at Alaska Airlines Arena by upgrading the Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to enhance customers’ cellular experience throughout the facility.
A DAS installation consists of multiple strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout Alaska Airlines Arena, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas, such as arenas. A DAS has the ability to provide enhanced, consistent wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations – terrain, building construction, etc. – or crowd density might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience.
The Alaska Airlines Arena DAS is part of AT&T’s Project Velocity IP (VIP), a multi-year plan to invest for growth, announced in 2012. Through this investment, AT&T is supporting its customers’ growing desire for high-quality, fast wireless and wired services. As part of Project VIP, AT&T is deploying small cell technology, macro cells and additional DAS, which will increase the density of our wireless network. The wireless network densification will further improve network quality and increase spectrum efficiency.
“When our customers cheer on the Huskies inside the arena, we want them to have a great network experience throughout the game no matter what they’re doing – whether that’s making a call, checking email, posting to social media or surfing the Internet,” said Mike Maxwell, vice president and general manager, AT&T Pacific Northwest. “Earlier this year we turned on a DAS at Husky Stadium and the year before at the pro football stadium in Seattle, and now with initiatives like Project VIP we’re continuing to invest in our wireless network in Seattle. Providing enhanced wireless coverage at Alaska Airlines Arena is just another way that we’re doing that.”
DAS technology helps improve the mobile Internet experience by shortening the distance a request must travel. The additional capacity also is expected to help improve call reliability, boost data traffic capacity and enable more consistent network access to help customers make the most of their AT&T devices.
These investments help to ensure that Seattle area residents continue to enjoy the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go. AT&T’s network has the nation’s strongest LTE signal, ** and AT&T also has the nation’s most reliable LTE network. ***
“We are always looking to enhance our game day experience through our technology here at the University of Washington,” said Erik Jones, Chief Technology Officer - Associate Athletic Director, University of Washington Athletics. “We have a progressive vision of creating a seamlessly connected experience for staff and fans. By working with AT&T, we are now able to offer great wireless service for games at both Husky Stadium and the Alaska Airlines Arena.”
AT&T’s focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T owns and operates more than 34,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more than 1 million hotspots globally through roaming agreements. **** Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly wireless data plans.
AT&T invested nearly $1.6 billion in its best-in-class wireless and wired networks in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area during the past three years, driving a wide range of upgrades to enhance speed, reliability, coverage and performance for residents and business customers.
For more information about AT&T’s coverage in Seattle or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
** Claim based on avg. LTE signal strength for national carriers.
***Reliability claim based on analysis of independent third party data re nationwide carriers’ 4G LTE. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.
**** A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. We’re helping people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between. Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nation’s strongest LTE signal and the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage. We’re improving how our customers stay entertained and informed with AT&T U-verse® TV and High Speed Internet services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with AT&T’s mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.
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Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers’ LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere. Global coverage claim based on offering voice and data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.
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