AT&T is the first and only wireless provider to connect to a Distributed Antenna System for this year’s event. COWs and CARTs will connect spectators at the Kentucky Derby – the greatest two minutes in sports
Louisville, Kentucky, April 25, 2013
Thanks to a new high-speed Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, home to the world famous Kentucky Derby, AT&T will provide customers with exclusive, enhanced wireless connectivity for the thoroughbred horse racing and other May 4 events where crowds can reach more than 150,000 on Derby day.
AT&T collaborated with a third party wireless infrastructure provider for the installation of new wireless antennas located throughout the Grandstands, Suites and premium seating areas of the venue to improve wireless coverage, capacity and data speeds during peak event times.
AT&T will be the first wireless carrier to connect to the DAS. The third party wireless infrastructure provider has worked closely with Churchill Downs and AT&T’s Antenna Solutions Group (ASG) to ensure the network is designed to meet the needs of AT&T’s customers as well as Churchill Downs, given the historical nature of the facility.
“Investment in next-generation technologies is imperative to Kentucky’s future success,” said Senator Robert Stivers. “During the greatest two minutes in sports, the world is focused on the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Kentuckians, as well as thousands of visitors from across the globe, will descend on Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby and I will continue to encourage investment in better wireless and broadband across the state through innovative public policy.”
AT&T has further beefed up its network enhancements by providing six Compact A/C Radio Telephone Sites (CARTs) in the Churchill Downs infield to provide additional network capacity in the area. AT&T will also provide two COWs in the neighborhood surrounding the track. The extra capacity will bolster voice and mobile Internet performance for Derby customers. AT&T often rolls in COWs for large events that generate a spike in network traffic.
“AT&T customers at Churchill Downs will have a better and more immersive mobile experience than ever before as they capture and share historical moments from the world famous horse race,” said Chad Townes, vice president of AT&T’s Antenna Systems Group.
According to Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, “Churchill Downs is committed to providing exceptional wireless coverage on Derby day. Our collaboration with AT&T will bring the latest wireless technology to Churchill Downs and address the coverage and capacity issues when folks are using their wireless devices to capture those photos, utilize social media and make calls.”
In addition to ensuring voice calls are successfully connected, the DAS will allow smart phones, tablets and other devices to access the Internet and run interactive applications including the Kentucky Derby mobile application. The Kentucky Derby mobile application allows users to access many features on their mobile devices, including information on the schedule of racing and entertainment events, horse and contender information, betting information, ticket information and sales, video and photo galleries, Derby trivia and racing meets, Facebook and Twitter links, and breaking news announcements.
“An integral part of our goal to deliver an outstanding customer experience is to provide an exceptional wireless experience,” said AT&T Kentucky President Mary Pat Regan. “We want to enable the thousands of Derby attendees to use their wireless devices to capture the memories made and stay connected.”
AT&T’s 4G Network
The AT&T 4G network** is the nation’s largest, covering more than 292 million people with ultra-fast speeds and a more consistent user experience. AT&T’s 4G LTE network delivers speeds faster than many other mobile Internet technologies***, as well as multiple innovations that optimize the network for performance. The company has deployed two compatible 4G technologies to deliver more speed to more smartphone customers, which means AT&T customers can get 4G speeds outside of 4G LTE areas on 4G HSPA+, unlike some competitors, where smartphone customers may fall back to slower 3G technologies when outside of LTE coverage.
For more information about AT&T’s coverage in Kentucky or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
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**4G speeds not available everywhere.
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About AT&T
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