Nextivity Inc. and Wytec announced that the companies partnered to help the Laredo Independent School District (ISD) alleviate inadequate cellular service and provide coverage within its facilities to address safety concerns.
The cellular enhancement solution designed by Wytec featuring Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 from Nextivity, met all Laredo ISD’s requirements for an approved, network-safe, multi-carrier in-building cellular coverage solution.
According to the National Emergency Number Association, more than 80% of 9-1-1 calls are made from wireless devices in most areas of the U.S. In accordance with guidelines set by the Safer Buildings Coalition for location accuracy when emergency calls are placed from a mobile phone from inside buildings, Laredo ISD wanted to ensure that staff and students could make 9-1-1 calls from anywhere within its facilities in the event of an emergency.
Laredo ISD was experiencing dead zones in its facilities due to building materials such as concrete and cinder blocks that were obstructing cellular carriers’ macro signals from penetrating into and throughout buildings. “The areas that required coverage in this initial project at Laredo ISD ranged in size from 10,000 to 200,000 square feet. The district wanted a solution that could receive signal off-air from the cellular towers and amplify the signal for all major U.S. carriers. They also required the least amount of intrusive cabling and wanted a system that could be monitored in ’real-time’,” said William Gray, chairman and CEO of Wytec International.
Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 is a hybrid Distributed Antenna System (DAS) that delivers uniform in-building cellular coverage. It specifically addresses the challenges of poor voice quality, dropped calls, and dead zones in large buildings. QUATRA uses CAT 5e cabling with Power over Ethernet so there is no need to install additional power outlets for the internal remote antennas.
Nextivity’s engineering and customer service teams will provide support for all Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 deployments at Laredo ISD. “Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 combined with Wytec’s expertise in cellular solution design and safety requirements in schools give Laredo ISD a high-performing, cost-effective solution that enables reliable communication from within its buildings,” said Werner Sievers, CEO of Nextivity.
Laredo ISD is made up of 33 educational institutions including elementary, middle, and high schools with an annual average enrollment of 24,000 students and more than 4,500 employees. Wytec has worked with Laredo ISD to complete three schools since being selected in November. The Laredo ISD has requested additional schools to be designed and constructed following the successful completion of the three original schools.
Wytec was founded in 2011 as a Nevada-based corporation, with its corporate facilities in San Antonio, Texas. Wytec offers commercial grade failover services, in-building cellular enhancement and citywide cellular mobility utilizing its patented and proprietary technology.
