Cellular service on the campus has long been frustratingly patchy, but OIT hopes agreements with AT&T and Verizon to build antennas on the campus can help solve the problem.
Earlier this semester, AT&T agreed to provide a temporary light-weight antenna while they work to improve reception on and around the campus in other ways. The company originally was in negotiations to provide a Cell-on-Wheels – essentially a mobile cellular antenna – but instead will build a minimally obtrusive antenna pole that looks somewhat like a giant Q-Tip. Verizon Wireless installed a similar antenna in Hornbake Plaza last fall.
The move makes sense for both the university and AT&T, said telecommunications professor Mike Dellomo, because the state is reluctant to allow companies to build normal cell towers on the campus.
“There are so many permits involved with building a standard cell tower, the state makes it pretty difficult to build a tower on campus,” Dellomo said. “With a standard tower, there is the same process involved that goes into the construction of a building.”
Coverage on the campus can be difficult because the high density of buildings disrupts cell phone signals, weakening coverage. The light-weight antennas are quick and easy ways to give reception a boost, officials said.
“We evaluate every situation on a case-by-case basis,” said AT&T spokesperson Elizabeth Gautier. “Looking at the campus’ population density, infrastructures and land topography, this was deemed the best answer for improved cell coverage.”
While AT&T and the Office of Information Technology declined to say where the antenna would be located, Dellomo said they would be wise to test out numerous spots to find the one where campus cellular coverage would be most optimal.
“If I were AT&T, I’d take some time and run it in test mode and look for the best place to put it,” Dellomo said. “Coverage would be optimal, and they would have possible future locations for a standard tower. I’m pretty excited for this, because I have AT&T and don’t get service in a lot of campus basements.”
Right now, Dellomo said, T-Mobile has a leg up on other wireless providers because of their tower located on the top of the University View.
“T-Mobile has a site on the View and they have great service on campus, especially North Campus,” Dellomo said. “It’s such a big building, it just seems to make sense.”
OIT officials said they have met with T-Mobile to continue working toward boosting signals on the perimeter of the campus and to discuss alternative approaches to improving coverage. For now, officials added, the Verizon Wireless and AT&T antennas will have the greatest impact on external cellular coverage and may improve internal coverage.
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