Boston university boosts cellular coverage in high-traffic areas
12 August, 2009
category: Education
Suffolk University in Downtown Boston has paired with Cellular Specialties Inc., a Manchester, N.H. designer of in-building wireless solutions, to boost wireless signal strength for both data and voice services in highly congested, low coverage areas such as the university’s student residence hall.
According to Fouad Yatim, Suffolk University’s chief information officer, the initial need was driven by the university’s in-campus emergency notification system.
“Originally, in-building wireless was not even on our radar. But it quickly became an issue when we realized that poor cell phone coverage was hindering the ability for students to receive important in-campus notifications via e-mail and text when they were located in certain buildings,” he said.
Cellular Specialties offered Suffolk a range of solutions designed especially for high traffic areas, such as amplifiers/repeaters, in-line boosters, and multi-directional antennas to supplement and expand the scope of wireless signals in the low coverage areas. Initial installation occurred at the university’s Nathan Miller residence hall, a 21-story building with 168,000 square-feet in the heart of Boston.