Better service for T-Mobile & Verizon Wireless customers at UB

Distributed antenna system.

By Joe Ferguson

Published March 3, 2016 This content is archived.

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Joe Ferguson.

Joe Ferguson (UB Student, Class of 2019) was born in Sacramento, CA, but currently lives in Lockport, NY. He is studying Marketing/Public Relations and Communications. He hopes to get a job in as a marketing person or PR agent for a California-based company when he graduates.  

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T-Mobile’s network will enjoy a boost on UB’s North Campus starting in late Spring 2016. 

Over the past few years, UB has collaborated with Verizon Wireless to install a distributed antenna system (DAS) that increases cellular coverage in and around UB buildings. This system is designed to allow other cell carriers like T-Mobile to work with Verizon Wireless to extend their cell signals in and around UB North Campus.

Thanks to the distributed antenna system, Verizon Wireless customers are already enjoying better service in the Ellicott Complex, Governors, Student Union, Knox Hall, Norton Hall, Capen Hall, Talbert Hall, Natural Science Complex, Clemens Hall, Baldy Hall and Alumni Arena. Jacobs, Alfiero, and Lockwood will also be added to the DAS for Verizon Wireless customers as of the Fall 2016 semester.

By the end of Spring 2016, T-Mobile customers will also notice an improvement in Ellicott, Governors, Student Union and Knox.

A distributed antenna system is a series of low power antennas that are strategically placed to extend cell coverage, similar to what an antenna system mounted on a radio tower would provide. The DAS simply extends cell signals to reach its customers inside the building instead of trying to bring service in from an exterior radio tower.

The DAS also frees up bandwidth from the cell tower around UB North Campus to boost coverage for the community surrounding UB as well.

"It’s a win-win scenario," said Jim Giardina, Network Analyst with Network and Classroom Services, part of UB Information Technology. "UB gets the bandwidth we need and the cell phone companies get extra bandwidth to support the nearby community."

As of Spring 2016, the primary focus of the DAS has been North Campus since much of the necessary back-end infrastructure is already located there.

Jim added, "It was important to have one antenna system built to allow other cell carriers access to be able to enhance their cellular services too."