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 innovative 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 renovation 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 attending fans an NFL-stadium type wireless experience with expanded coverage including support for 5G signals, using JMA’s Wireless DAS Platform along with some new patented narrow-beam antennas from JMA.
According to JMA, the JMA Wireless DAS platform, a multi-band, multi-operator architecture, was deployed at the stadium to address connectivity challenges that were facing the previous system, which had been in place for 10 years. According to JMA the upgrade included installation of 102 new 4G/5G-capable software-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 connectivity to ensure smooth ticketing and entry operations. The use of the new narrow-beam antennas is essential to mitigating interference between antennas, JMA said.
“This is a truly transformative milestone in the life of the JMA Wireless Dome, both for the facility and for every individual who attends an athletic event, concert or other activity at the Dome,” said Jeff Rubin, special advisor to Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud on esports and digital transformation, 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 connectivity 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 connectivity, with plans to bring aboard AT&T and T-Mobile already in action. The new software-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 operations 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.”
