Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Tech Companies Partner to Bring Cellular Coverage to Schools

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/21/22

Two tech companies—Athonet, which offers private network technology solutions, and BearCom, a wireless integrator—recently announced that they are partnering to bring private cellular coverage including LTE, 5G and CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) to North American schools. The companies will offer private LTE proof-of-concepts and installations as wireless solutions that meet the necessary standards of security, capacity and reliability, according to a news release.

“When developing a private network, our customers rely on us to provide a mobile core that is proven, reliable and secure,” said Mike Owen, chief technology officer for BearCom. “Athonet has delivered thousands of LTE, 4G/5G and CBRS mission-critical networks across the globe in the same verticals where we are focused.”

One recent installation for the Fort Worth Independent School District in Fort Worth, Texas, brought a private LTE network using CBRS to more than 4,000 students. Athonet’s EPC LTE mobile core was installed at the school district’s data center, while BearCom provided other vendors to bring materials like the Spectrum Access System, home routers, CBRS eNodeBs and radio access network software.

“Organizations are beginning to understand the benefits of private networks but need an integrator that can bring all the vendors together to deliver business results,” said Simon O'Donnell, president of Athonet USA.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.