Boldyn Network has partnered with Verizon Wireless to install millimeter wave 5G small cells at Fort Cavazos US Army base in Texas.
In total, Boldyn deployed nearly 60 small cells, with service provided by US carrier Verizon Wireless.
Boldyn notes that the small cells will "enhance coverage and speeds" for the more than 60,000 soldiers and family members living on base.
Outdoor small cells are typically fixed to existing street furniture, such as lampposts.
They are seen as a simpler alternative to bulkier telecoms infrastructure, which might look out of place or draw criticism from residents.
“This project is about improving the quality of life for anyone who steps onto Fort Cavazos, but particularly service members and their families,” said Ret. Col. Lou Zeisman, head of military relations at Boldyn Networks, US.
“Soldiers and their family members living on base depend on connectivity for everything from work to homework, telehealth to entertainment and now they have better speeds in harder to reach places.”
The Army base is one of the biggest in the US, spanning approximately 215,000 acres.
In order to deploy the small cells at the base, Boldyn stated that it also deployed 145,000 ft of fiber to the small cells, three macro cell towers, and sites for additional cell towers.
“Fort Cavazos is another example of Verizon’s commitment to serving members of the military and their families,” added Martin Mallady, associate director for Verizon’s DoD business. “Whether it’s wide area coverage on cell towers, or more concentrated, high-capacity coverage with 5G millimeter wave small cells, we optimize the network to serve the mission and lives supported on base.”
Verizon announced last week it had secured a 24-month task order extension for its Global Network Solutions (GNS) contract with the Department of Defense (DoD), taking the total revenue for the contract to $98 million since being awarded in 2016.
The carrier said that the purpose of the extension is to create a point-to-point connection within Southwest Asia that provides critical network communications capabilities for the US government.
