CASE STUDY InDoor WIrElESS CovErAgE ConvEnTIon CEnTEr CHALLENGE Each year millions of people attend events held at convention centers throughout the world. While attending these events, attendees often need to be in continuous communication with their customers, co- workers, and others, and they rely on mobile phones to facilitate those communications. However, wireless service is not always available within buildings such as convention centers. This continues to make anytime, anywhere communication a challenge. THE PROBLEM A large convention center in San Francisco wanted to ensure that their facility had sufficient coverage and capacity for attendees to use their mobile devices during their events. The design of the convention center made it very difficult to provide service to all areas of the venue. Some wireless service was already available in the convention center from an 800 MHz provider using both analog modulation (AMPS) and digital modulation (CDMA). The existing network served the main area of the convention hall, while panel antennas were used to strengthen the signals in the corridors. However, coverage and capacity became very poor when attendance was high. A large number of users during conventions tended to flood the system, causing subscribers to experience signal losses resulting in dropped calls. Amplification of the signals would only create more background noise, further deteriorating the CDMA network. Sufficient coverage was impossible to achieve during events due to the high volumes of communication transmissions. Therefore, the service provider was at risk of subscriber churn due to Web Site: www.adc.com From North America, Call Toll Free: 1-800-366-3891 • Outside of North America: +1-952-938-8080 Fax: +1-952-917-3237 • For a listing of ADC’s global sales office locations, please refer to our Web site. ADC Telecommunications, Inc., P.O. Box 1101, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55440-1101 Specifications published here are current as of the date of publication of this document. Because we are continuously improving our products, ADC reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. At any time, you may verify product specifications by contacting our headquarters office in Minneapolis. ADC Telecommunications, Inc. views its patent portfolio as an important corporate asset and vigorously enforces its patents. Products or features contained herein may be covered by one or more U.S. or foreign patents. An Equal Opportunity Employer 103146AE 7/06 Revision © 2006 ADC Telecommunications, Inc. All Rights Reserved CASE STUDY dissatisfaction with service. In addition, the service provider was missing the opportunity to capture roaming charges by providing service where the competition did not. THE ADC SOLUTION ADC worked with the service provider to show how it could incorporate a coverage solution that would enhance the existing network, cost effectively providing increased capacity and improved coverage. The convention center had a courtyard in the center, with an arena-like structure surrounding that area. Subscribers within the audiences typically congregated in the hallways and the areas below the courtyard where coverage was exceptionally poor. This challenging design was overcome by installing two 25-watt digital remote units below ground at opposite ends of the convention center, one in the north hall and the other in the south hall. The remote units were optically fed from a location about two blocks away from the convention center. Signals were fed in simulcast mode using CDMA modulation and separate channels for AMPS. BENEfITS REALIzED By THE CUSTOMER The CDMA system demonstrated an error vector magnitude (a parameter measuring introduced phase and amplitude error) of 1.3 – 1.7 percent, which far surpasses the industry’s traditional allowance of 7 – 9 percent. Capacity was distributed more effectively using CDMA and AMPS channel allocations, and coverage improved. The number of dropped calls reduced significantly and, as a result, subscriber satisfaction within the convention center has risen. ADC's solution allowed the service provider to cost-effectively satisfy subscribers' needs while earning additional revenue. . CASE STUDY InDoor WIrElESS CovErAgE ConvEnTIon CEnTEr CHALLENGE Each year millions of people attend events held at convention centers throughout. the convention center made it very difficult to provide service to all areas of the venue. Some wireless service was already available in the convention center