https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet


News

Verizon invests $97 million to prepare communications for Super Bowl in Atlanta

Verizon invests $97 million to prepare communications for Super Bowl in Atlanta

  • Written by Donny Jackson
  • 2nd February 2019

Verizon has spent $97 million on network infrastructure—much of it on small cells and fiber backhaul—in Atlanta during the past two years to bolster its wireless coverage and capacity in anticipation of this weekend’s Super Bowl, according to representatives for the carrier.

“We have added over 650 permanent solutions,” Michelle Kababik, Verizon’s director of network assurance, said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications. “That includes 350 miles of fiber, countless number of new cell sites—small cells, in-building systems, and anything that could enhance coverage in our network.

“The best thing about that is that it will be here after the Super Bowl. So, we will benefit from all of those solutions once the Super Bowl leaves.”

Verizon deployed more than 300 new small cells in downtown Atlanta, added capacity to almost 150 existing small cells, and did work on more than 50 in-building solutions in the city, according to Kababik.

“We’ve upgraded or installed several in-building systems into all of the venues, as well as all of the hotels in the surrounding area,” she said.

While the initial purpose of these efforts is to support communications during the Super Bowl, Verizon also has deployed these solutions with an eye toward future technologies and use cases, Kababik said.

“All of our small-cell technology is built so that, if we need to make any changes to it—to add millimeter-wave [support], if we don’t have it there—it is not a large undertaking and is something we will be able to do quickly,” Kababik said.

In addition to installing permanent network assets, Verizon has pre-positioned satellite-equipped deployable vehicles that can be transported quickly to address any coverage or capacity needs that might arise, Kababik said.

“Basically, we have redundancy in our network, so [the deployable solutions] are a backup to the backup,” she said. “Those temporary assets are backing up the service, as well as we’ve put in a lot of redundancy in our fiber network within the elements in our switches. So, if something goes into a critical mode, most likely we have a second one that we’ll switch over to, so we don’t lose service.

“What we’ve done is strategically place them around the city. If there were any communications issue or a need for additional capacity, I could roll those into any command center to help public safety with their needs, so they wouldn’t have an interruption in service or capacity.”

Bill Bratton, the former two-time New York City police commissioner who now advises Verizon as the Teneo advisory firm’s executive chair of the risk division, said such reliability efforts and the additional network capacity in Atlanta is important to public-safety personnel trying to ensure safety during the massive event.

“With the increasing need for public safety to have data transmission and video transmission …. the need has expanded greatly, the capabilities of technology,” Bratton said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications. “Verizon not only has stayed in step with that but has projected into the future and planned for the future, as evidenced by its smart-city initiatives and focus on 5G technology, all of which are going to come into being very quickly in the next several years.”

Bratton said that he is pleased by the progress made in public-safety communications since the 9/11 attacks and even since 2014, when he was police commissioner for New York City when it hosted the Super Bowl. Improvement is especially notable in the area of interoperability, he said.

Even in 2014, Bratton said that “cops in the subway could not talk with cops on the street”—a situation that also existed among firefighters—but “all of that has been corrected over the last several years, so the interoperability issue has improved dramatically—not just in New York but, significantly, around the country.

“The needs of public-safety interoperability are being met. It took awhile to get up to speed, but they’re there now.”

Although public-safety officials can talk with each other regardless of what commercial wireless provider they use—particularly with priority and preemption assuring them access to the Verizon and AT&T FirstNet systems—Bratton noted that developing interoperability that ensures security and prioritization between carriers remains “a work in progress” today.

Bratton expressed concern that such an understanding between Verizon and AT&T FirstNet does not yet exist, but he does not believe it will be a problem during the Super Bowl.

“For purposes of this event here, Verizon is the principle provider of services in the Atlanta region, so that should not be a significant concern at this juncture,” he said.

Kababik said she believes Verizon is ready to deliver the communications needed during the Super Bowl, citing the team of 100 engineers working 24/7 to monitor and prepare the control center in Alpharetta—a city about 25 miles from downtown Atlanta—and teams of personnel surrounding the game site.

“With the two years of planning, we’re ready to go,” Kababik said. “I feel like we’re ready and able to handle anything that could come our way.”

 

Tags: homepage-featured-4 Backhaul Companies Coverage/Interference Critical Infrastructure Deployables Enterprise Funding In-Building Incident Command/Situational Awareness Interoperability Long Term Evolution (LTE) News Public Safety Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet State & Local Government System Design System Installation Tower & Site Tracking, Monitoring & Control Wireless Networks News

Most Recent


  • Cybercrime ecosystem spawns lucrative underground Gig Economy
    Over a 30-month period, cybercriminal gangs and threat groups posted more than 200,000 advertisements seeking workers with skills in software development, maintaining IT infrastructure, and designing fraudulent sites and email campaigns. The demand for technically skilled individuals continues, but it peaked during the coronavirus pandemic, with double the average job advertisements coming during March 2020, […]
  • FAA approves beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights in North Dakota
    The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) avionics company uAvionix received Federal Aviation Administration approval to conduct advanced beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights of small UAVs in North Dakota.  The flights will be conducted at the Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Site (NPUASTS) in Grand Forks, one of seven FAA-run UAV test sites in the U.S., using […]
  • AT&T boasts of core 'white box' success in 5G, fiber push
    AT&T said it has now migrated more than 52% of all of its production traffic onto next-generation “white box” core routers running on products from the likes of Broadcom and DriveNets. The company said its move to such “open” systems has helped its aggressive 5G and fiber expansions. “We announced the next-gen open disaggregated core routing […]
  • Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities
    The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion legislative package that includes funding for states, local governments and tribal nations to respond to the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially restricted, subsequent guidance from the federal government has expanded what those funds can be used for. […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • New Orleans-area 911 center inks multiyear APEX deal with Carbyne to replace call-handling system
  • IoT connectivity spending climbs as COVID-19 cases decline
  • APCO, NENA, NASNA speakers cite ‘discussions’ to address NG911 funding issues
  • UK officials revamp ESN plans again, target Airwave-to-LTE transition for end of 2026

Commentary


How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023

3GPP moves Release 18 freeze date to March 2024

18th January 2023

Do smart cities make safer cities?

  • 1
6th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Cybercrime ecosystem spawns lucrative underground Gig Economy dlvr.it/ShkKbf

31st January 2023
UrgentComm

FAA approves beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights in North Dakota dlvr.it/ShgxHW

30th January 2023
UrgentComm

AT&T boasts of core ‘white box’ success in 5G, fiber push dlvr.it/Shgb4w

30th January 2023
UrgentComm

Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities dlvr.it/ShgZ52

30th January 2023
UrgentComm

AT&T wireless growth keyed by FirstNet—now provides 24,000 agencies with 4.4 million connections dlvr.it/ShY5qH

27th January 2023
UrgentComm

Report: Remote work causing offices to empty, but walkable cities still in high demand dlvr.it/ShXM7Z

27th January 2023
UrgentComm

AT&T FirstNet unleashes robotic dogs for emergency services dlvr.it/ShW7p8

27th January 2023
UrgentComm

Federal agencies infested by cyberattackers via legit remote-management systems dlvr.it/ShVhn3

26th January 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.