Vertical: Aviation
Application: Aerial firefighting operations, airport ramp connectivity, perimeter security monitoring, aircraft data offloading, hangar tenant wireless services
Ecosystem: Aura Wireless, Heddian, Cal Poly Noyce Advanced Wireless Lab
Private Network: 5G, CBRS, Wi-Fi
Quick Answer
Aura Wireless deployed a converged 5G and Wi-Fi network at Paso Robles Municipal Airport in California to serve critical aviation operations, including aerial firefighting and future commercial spaceport development. The single-node deployment covers the full airport ramp and validates private 5G’s ability to deliver mission-critical connectivity where conventional infrastructure was economically impractical.
Extending reliable connectivity across a 1,300-acre airport ramp would traditionally require thousands in infrastructure investment – until a single-node 5G solution proved otherwise.
Building Connectivity Where It Matters Most
Aura Wireless deployed a converged 5G and Wi-Fi network at Paso Robles Municipal Airport in California to serve critical aviation operations, including aerial firefighting and future commercial spaceport development. The single-node deployment covers the full airport ramp and validates private 5G’s ability to deliver mission-critical connectivity where conventional infrastructure was economically impractical.
Extending reliable connectivity across a 1,300-acre airport ramp would traditionally require thousands in infrastructure investment-until a single-node 5G solution proved otherwise.
Building Connectivity Where It Matters Most
Paso Robles Municipal Airport spans 1,300 acres in San Luis Obispo County and processes roughly 50,000 private aircraft operations each year. The facility serves as the home base for Cal Fire’s Paso Robles Air Attack Base and California Highway Patrol Coastal Air Operations, alongside numerous other aviation tenants. For years, significant portions of the airport operated without dependable wireless coverage-a constraint that limited operational efficiency and created safety concerns.
Traditional wired infrastructure would have required prohibitive capital expenditure across the sprawling airfield. Mark Scandalis, the Airport Manager, explained that the 5G deployment provides reliable internet connectivity to previously unserved areas in a cost-effective manner, meeting both immediate operational needs and the facility’s strategic vision for future development. Similar airport connectivity challenges have prompted other aviation facilities to evaluate private 5G solutions.
Single-Node Design Delivers Full Ramp Coverage
Aura Wireless installed the Apogee Converge antenna, a system that integrates Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) with Wi-Fi capabilities. The antenna incorporates Aura’s proprietary Asymmetric Gain technology and four programmable sectors, enabling single-location deployment to achieve comprehensive coverage across the airport ramp.
This design addresses fundamental challenges in airport environments. Operations supporting aerial firefighting demand high-throughput, low-latency connectivity for flight telemetry, crew coordination, and real-time operational data. The ability to deploy mission-critical wireless infrastructure from a single strategic location reflects how modern antenna design reshapes deployment economics.
The testbed is now live and validating operations across four primary domains:
- Perimeter security monitoring
- Aircraft data offloading
- Wireless connectivity for hangar tenants
- Enhanced connectivity supporting Cal Fire flight missions
City officials intend to extend this model as a blueprint for private wireless deployment across municipal services.
Deployment Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Location | Paso Robles Municipal Airport, CA |
| Airport Size | 1,300 acres |
| Annual Operations | ~50,000 aircraft operations |
| Antenna Type | Aura Apogee Converge |
| Spectrum | CBRS + Wi-Fi |
| Coverage | Full airport ramp from single node |
Laying Infrastructure for the Spaceport Future
The immediate operational benefits are substantial, but the deployment also prepares the airport for an ambitious long-term vision. Paso Robles is pursuing an FAA commercial spaceport license in collaboration with Cal Poly as part of the Paso Robles Space Innovation and Technology Park. The wireless infrastructure being validated today mirrors what spaceport operations will demand-robust, zero-dead-zone connectivity.
Bill Britton, retired Cal Poly University Chair and current Paso Robles Airport Commission Chairman, emphasized that private 5G delivered the resilient, high-performance coverage the environment demands. The system supports both existing mission-critical aviation operations and establishes the wireless foundation for future commercial spaceport activity.
Cal Poly engineering students participated in every phase of the deployment-from rooftop installation through live RF validation-gaining hands-on exposure to production-grade implementation. Jonathan Polly, Chief Technical Manager of Cal Poly’s 5G Innovation Lab, noted that the collaboration closed the experiential gap between theory and field work. Educational private 5G testbeds like Paso Robles provide students with exposure to real-world wireless challenges while establishing replicable deployment models for communities.
Principles for Enterprise Deployment
The Paso Robles case illustrates broader principles for organizations evaluating private 5G:
- Network must solve a concrete operational or financial constraint-not serve as a speculative upgrade
- Technology selection must align with the environment’s physical characteristics and throughput requirements
- Collaboration among vendors, integrators, and end users produces superior results
For airports, ports, industrial facilities, and large campuses, private 5G has become a proven alternative for closing connectivity gaps that public carriers do not address economically. Case studies across aviation and transportation sectors demonstrate that deliberate engineering and thoughtful planning unlock substantial operational value.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What spectrum bands does the Apogee Converge use at Paso Robles?
The antenna combines CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service at 3.5 GHz) with Wi-Fi bands, providing operational flexibility in frequency selection based on regulatory approval and real-time needs. CBRS operates under a licensed-by-rule model in the United States, allowing authorized operators to deploy without individual licensing if they comply with operational parameters.
2. Why did a single antenna node provide sufficient coverage?
The Apogee Converge’s four programmable sectors and Asymmetric Gain technology deliver directional radiation reaching areas where conventional antennas struggle. Paso Robles’ ramp environment-relatively flat and open-favors radiating coverage from one elevated central location. Not all airport deployments would require a single node; RF planning typically models each site’s topography and operational scope to determine optimal antenna quantity, placement, and orientation.
3. How does a private network compare to public carrier service at the airport?
| Aspect | Private 5G Network | Public Carrier Service |
| Performance Control | Deterministic, under organization’s control | Variable, optimized for broad coverage |
| Use Case Optimization | Tailored for real-time, mission-critical needs | Optimized for consumer applications |
| Service Level Agreements | Organization-defined, customizable | Carrier-defined, limited customization |
| Scaling Capacity | Direct control, based on operational need | Dependent on carrier timelines |
| Cost Model (Large Campus) | Capital investment, favorable long-term ROI | Recurring monthly fees |
For large campuses like Paso Robles, the total cost of a private network frequently becomes more favorable than sustained monthly carrier fees while providing superior performance for mission-critical operations.
