Keeping university students connected is imperative as younger Americans rely on their cellphones for more than simple communications. Many use their phones to accomplish daily routines and complete classwork. As such, they expect constant mobile connectivity, and the quality of mobile service on college campuses can have a direct impact on the student experience and the university’s ability to attract and retain students.
That’s why Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, began looking for a partner to help it improve wireless connectivity across its campus in early 2023.
Sacred Heart started as a small, regional college in 1963 but by the late 20th century, it had outgrown its original campus and began a period of rapid physical expansion. New on- and off-campus buildings necessitated significant upgrades to the university’s telecom, data and systems infrastructure to support the demands of a modern educational institution. Sacred Heart’s executive director of IT infrastructure, Saburo Usami, joined the university to manage this effort.
A shift in construction methods to include Low-E glass and LEED compliance, which can diminish outdoor cellular signals entering buildings, and the evolution of the mobile phone from a professional tool to a household necessity required the school to address in-building cellular coverage. One of Usami’s key objectives was to expand the installation of distributed antenna systems to improve cellular coverage and capacity across campus.
“Most college/university dorm rooms do not have hard-wired phones anymore,” said Usami. “Thus, providers like me need a way to cover for failed Wi-Fi and the ever-faulty Wi-Fi Calling, especially since Wi-Fi is so prone to disruption from everyday sources. Cell signal, for me, is a life-safety requirement, especially for students with medical conditions or special needs.”
Working with Newbridge Wireless, the university deployed a comprehensive cellular antenna system first in residence halls with plans to expand coverage to faculty and staff in future stages. The project took six months to complete and required zero upfront capital investment.
Founded in 2004, Newbridge Wireless is a provider of in-building connectivity solutions with carrier-grade wireless infrastructure assets deployed at over 2,000 venues in North America. Newbridge Wireless offers end-to-end capabilities across design, engineering, installation, monitoring, maintenance and financing.
Michael Zhang founded Newbridge 20 years ago after a 10-year career in the wireless industry to address a lack of indoor wireless coverage at a time when wireless carriers and tower companies were focused solely on building outdoor coverage.
When Usami first contacted Newbridge Wireless, he was looking for an alternative response to an RFQ he had issued to address growing concerns over students needing to be able to use their cellphones in their dorms and dorm rooms. Zhang said it was an interesting dynamic to be approached to verify another bid and then to have another company verify the bid he submitted. Because the client came in with some knowledge of indoor wireless systems, Zhang said Newbridge took a consultative, partnership approach with Sacred Heart.
“Our mindset has always been helping them solve their problems. If our solution, for whatever reason, is not for them, we want them to find what’s best for them,” said Zhang.
Newbridge’s deep experience lends credibility and confidence to its negotiations with potential clients. Zhang noted the company has spearheaded deployments for a wide variety of facilities in six vertical markets – including everything from an elementary school to a five-star hotel. Along the way, it has had to become an expert in dealing with a wide variety of environments, including adhering to strict biosafety standards in laboratories where it is deploying equipment.
Sacred Heart’s contract decision came to fruition in just six weeks, which Zhang quipped is quicker than some people take to buy a new car, much less an expensive and complex telecom system. Before deployment began, Newbridge and Usami collaborated to determine the goals of the DAS and who it would serve.
Usami said he appreciated Newbridge’s approach that hinged on offering no-charge advice and professional insight without a hard sell, as well as the company’s willingness to work with existing contractors who understood the university’s standards. Newbridge provided Sacred Heart the option to build the system under a 10-year DAS-as-a-Service model, removing the challenge of a large initial buildout cost. Also of great value to Usami was Newbridge’s ability to negotiate signal sourcing with carriers.
“The project of building out DAS is specialized. Unlike data networking and Wi-Fi, which is a commodity proposition in unregulated airwave space, DAS straddles the interesting zone of re-broadcasting licensed airwaves,” said Usami. “You need a cell pro to buy, install, and register the hardware, and a guy like me who wants to deal with the carriers and request some help with the costs, requires some representation on this side of the negotiating table.”
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