Tech Company Obtains Approval for a 10-Year Contract Extension
Smart City Networks, the nation’s leading digital communications provider for convention centers and hospitality venues, has been approved for a new 10-year contract at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD).
“Our win in Dallas continues our three-plus-year winning streak of renewing our convention center partnerships,” said Mark Haley, President of Smart City Networks. “With each competitive bid, we hone our responses to reflect the latest technology needs of our customers that we see in the 3,000 events that we manage each year. That way our venue partners have the wireless technologies necessary to attract and retain today’s most demanding technological events.”
The Dallas City Council approved the contract on February 22, 2017. Smart City has been the technology services provider for the convention center since 1997. Along with the contract extension, approval was also provided for the installation of a distributed antenna system (DAS). For the DAS buildout, Smart City has partnered with AT&T who will design and build the DAS and ensure connectivity for the KBHCCD to other AT&T Dallas-based projects, such as the Dallas Innovative Initiative.
As part of the new agreement, Smart City will also replace the existing wired and wireless networks at the convention center. The new system will feature a high-density design and will provide the capability of 64,000 simultaneous users on the network at one time. It will also provide 10-gigabit connectivity throughout the facility.
The DAS will be implemented to amplify mobile broadband coverage throughout the facility, eliminate dead zones, and improve network reliability in areas with heavy-user demand and increased network capacity.
“After going through this competitive process, it was evident to the committee that Smart City was not resting on its laurels. The company has an excellent grasp of what future technologies are needed in today’s competitive convention center market,” said Ron King, executive director of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, “the combination of Smart City and AT&T is a home run for the City of Dallas.”
