NFL coaches using private 3.5 GHz CBRS networks
In recent FCC filings, the National Football League (NFL) said it expects to continue using an in-stadium, coach-to-coach communications system running in the newly released 3.5GHz CBRS spectrum band.
The plan is noteworthy because the spectrum band is being used for critical, time-sensitive communications inside massive NFL football stadiums during games. Such environments can be extremely challenging for RF engineers to address.
Indeed, big wireless network operators like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile routinely spend millions of dollars building wireless networks inside football stadiums and other high-traffic venues. But those networks are shared among tens of thousands of users. The NFL’s network, on the other hand, appears built specifically to make sure that coaches can communicate with each other during games.
A complex setup
The NFL’s use of the CBRS band for coach-to-coach communications is covered by some of the league’s recent filings with the FCC, the federal agency in charge of managing the nation’s spectrum resources. The NFL first hinted at its interest in such a network in 2018 filings, as reported by FierceWireless, but the new documents indicate that those tests have evolved.
Specifically, the NFL mentioned its desire to “operate its in-stadium, coach-to-coach CBRS communications system,” and said those systems are in all NFL stadiums.
The filings also outline the NFL’s efforts to maintain primary and backup Internet connections during games.
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