ICT Today

34 I ICT TODAY During conference breaks or when guests return to their rooms in the evening, the load on the system tends to be bursty, which means sudden high demand for short periods of time, requiring higher peak data speeds. This is exactly the kind of traffic scenarios for which the private networks are designed. Because CBRS spectrum also uses LTE technology, it can offer true mobility, strong security, and higher quality of service than unlicensed Wi-Fi networks. Because CBRS spectrum uses a novel spectrum-sharing arrangement, training is offered for CBRS certified professional installers based on the guidelines and standards approved by the Wireless Innovation Forum. "Wi-Fi is a complementary connectivity solution inside a stadium, but the Wi-Fi signal won't reach the parking lot," Larsen notes. "The more quickly a venue can get 100,000 people to pay for their parking, the faster they can get into the stadium to buy food, beverages and merchandise. CBRS is suited for this type of appli- cation. Another reason to use CBRS spectrum is the venue can control the number of devices and the type of devices that are on the network. The same philosophy can transfer to the hospitality industry, especially ones that cater to larger crowds." 5G SOLUTIONS AND THE FUTURE Expect 5G cellular networks to enable great transformations to enterprises in the hospitality space. 5G network deployments are expected to provide significant economic and efficiency gains in the markets where they are deployed. Previously, carriers have deployed distributed antenna systems (DAS) to improve in-building coverage and capacity in only the largest of venues and conference centers. Now more than ever carriers, hoteliers, and systems integrators are working together on getting connectivity in a variety of venue brands and sizes. According to Perez, his company is delivering connectivity to 12 hotels in Tampa, Florida, as well as the largest and newest mixed-use development called Water Street Tampa. The new DAS project will cover 3.5 million square feet (≈325,161 m 2 ) of indoor DAS, 3,770 hotel rooms, and 1.8 million square feet (≈167,225 m 2 ) of outdoor space, which includes residential and com- mercial areas in the downtown Tampa Waterfront area. This includes Sparkman Wharf, which is an outdoor waterfront recreation and dining destination. For more comprehensive information about DAS standards and best practices, designers, integrators, and installers should "It's easier to slot new technology into construction plans and assume things will be returned to normal by the time the business opens," Perez comments. "Retrofits are a little trickier. Hoteliers today are focused on technology that either can avoid a cost or find a new way to generate revenue." "Mobile operators are beginning to recognize that a person checking into a hotel is not only a hotel customer, but also a cellular customer," Singh notes. "It's a common customer." That realization helps move conversations forward about installing a DAS solution for better coverage and capacity across a hotel property. "Going forward, hoteliers will invest in solutions that bring customers back to hotels," Martinez predicts. "The hotel industry will invest in something that brings people back to beds in their hotels." Although the feature sets are likely to be very different for the business traveler, conference attendee, or vacationing family, the network needs to be able to support all guests' needs. "Leveraging technology to make it safer and more convenient, as well as interacting with fewer people will enable people to start traveling again," Larsen adds. Much of the attention on 5G connectivity today focuses on smart-factory and smart-city applications, consult ANSI/BICSI 006-2020, Distributed Antenna System (DAS) Design and Implementation Best Practices. ICT profes- sionals can also refer to the technical services bulletin TIA TSB-5018, Structured Cabling Infrastructure Guidelines to Support Distributed Antenna Systems. The TR-42.1 sub-committee will consider elevating TSB-5018 to a standard in an October 2021 meeting.

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