Vertical: Education
Application: Enhanced coverage,
Ecosystem: Kajeet
Private Network: LTE
Texas A&M University Technology Services (TAMU TS) has taken a significant step forward in campus connectivity by partnering with Kajeet, a leading managed connectivity solutions provider, to deploy a private LTE network on its College Station campus. This innovative project aims to revolutionize the university’s parking operations, addressing specific challenges faced in a bustling academic environment.
The deployment utilizes the university’s band 41 license to create an Educational Broadband Service (EBS) 2.5 GHz private cellular network. By implementing Radio Access Network equipment, TAMU TS and Kajeet have established a proof-of-concept network tailored to the unique needs of a heavily populated campus.
One of the primary goals of this project was to develop a system capable of withstanding cellular network congestion during high-traffic periods. The EBS solution employs handheld scanners to process automated payments via a private cellular radio, effectively stabilizing payment options and streamlining operational efficiency.
This approach marks a significant improvement over the university’s previous method of deploying and removing temporary Wi-Fi hotspots for automated parking management, which required substantial labor hours. The new system not only reduces the workload but also provides a more reliable and efficient solution for managing parking operations.
The partnership between TAMU TS and Kajeet demonstrated its effectiveness during a high-stakes event – the heavily-attended George Strait concert at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. With 110,905 attendees, the event provided a perfect testing ground for the new system. The parking payment scanners, powered by Kajeet’s private wireless network solution, performed flawlessly, validating the technology’s capability to handle large-scale events with ease.
Ben Weintraub, CEO of Kajeet, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Our collaboration with Texas A&M University Technology Services team exemplifies the impact that advanced connectivity solutions can have on large-scale operations. The success at the George Strait concert was a significant validation of our technology’s capability to handle high-stakes, high-volume events with ease.”
