VALL Technologies is instrumental in delivering CBRS private LTE network and free broadband access to students of St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) in Longmont, Colorado
Executive Summary
- Customer: VALL Technologies, a Private Wireless and Managed IT Network solutions provider
- End User: St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) in Longmont, Colorado
- Product: BEC GigaConnect® 6500AEL Series of CBRS Multi-Service LTE Routers
- Application: Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
- Data Connectivity: CBRS Private LTE Network
- Results: By deploying the BEC 6500AEL Series of CBRS LTE Routers, St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) is closing the digital divide in its community
About the Customer
VALL Technologies is an innovative company, specializing in Private Wireless and Managed IT network solutions. The company designs, deploys, and manages advanced wireless solutions for complex data, voice, and video communication requirements. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Colorado, VALL Technologies has provided services to Fortune 500 corporations and public sector organizations.
Background
St. Vrain Valley Schools (SVVSD), Colorado’s 7th largest school district, and the city partnered to bridge the digital divide for their community. District officials decided to use CARES Act funding to build a private wireless network to provide free broadband service to 4,000 low-income students in the district. To support this effort, SVVSD called upon the City’s municipal fiber provider, NextLight, who enlisted the wireless network design expertise of VALL Technologies, a Colorado-based private wireless and managed network firm.
Challenge
Typically, school districts’ most significant challenge when deploying a private wireless network is identifying and securing funding; however, the CARES ACT funding helped significantly. Other challenges include:
- Feasibility studies.
- Wireless technology choice.
- Infrastructure support.
- Finding adequate network resources.
- Equipment acquisition.
- Securing technical expertise to manage and deploy the network.
NextLight and VALL Technologies worked together to address all the challenges by leveraging NextLight’s existing fiber footprint for cell site backhaul and VALL’s expertise to design a private wireless network, providing enough capacity and coverage using the CBRS spectrum.
How BEC Helped
VALL Technologies selected the BEC GigaConnect® 6500AEL Series of CBRS Multi-Service LTE Routers. The routers are designed for fast deployments and support zero-touch provisioning, allowing hassle-free self-installation whereby the students simply power on and instantly connect. The 6500AEL provides robust connectivity over CBRS with carrier aggregation for increased data rates, Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac, 4-port Gigabit Ethernet, and strong firewall security. In addition, the 6500AEL delivers persistent connectivity and data rates up to 50 Mbps downlink, providing more than enough bandwidth for students.
Results
The network now spans 38 cell sites, roughly half of the City of Longmont, covering about 50% to 60% of the four thousand students. With additional funding, SVVSD will build more sites along with coverage expansion. The SVVSD partnership with the local government and other public/private entities has positively impacted the students.
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