Solutions to boost wireless coverage in high-traffic meeting spaces for event and patron retention

Wireless reception in the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Ark., is now much better because of improvements provided by Corning MobileAccess.

Corning MobileAccess, a global provider of enterprise wireless solutions, today announced that its distributed antenna system (DAS) has been installed to enhance cellular coverage in the Statehouse Convention Center. The project was completed earlier this year.

The DAS provides improved wireless service for one of the largest convention centers in Arkansas, which is managed by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. It contains three floors and 250,000 square feet of meeting and office space.

Wireless coverage is a critical component to the Statehouse Convention Center's meetings, trade shows, concerts and conventions. Previously, inconsistent cellular service plagued the Convention Center, resulting in dropped calls and poor cellular data services.  The problems were most evident during high-volume events, which often led to no coverage at all for attendees and staff.

To improve interior cellular coverage, the Statehouse Convention Center's primary wireless carrier deployed Corning MobileAccess' MobileAccess2000 in-building wireless solution. Beyond just enhancing service quality, however, the MobileAccess2000 solution also offered the Statehouse Convention Center the ability to support multiple services on a single, broadband infrastructure, including additional carriers and emerging wireless services like 4G LTE.

"Convention centers often struggle with dense building structures and expansive layouts that can cause cell signal degradation. In addition, high-traffic events can put a strain on cellular networks, leading to attendee and staff complaints," said Derek Johnston, senior director of Marketing, Corning MobileAccess. "With the deployment of a multi-operator, multi-service DAS, the Statehouse Convention Center has significantly strengthened and improved the overall wireless footprint, ensuring that coverage is consistent throughout the entire building. This expansion meets the connectivity needs of thousands of visitors and staff, while future-proofing the network to support emerging services like 4G."

In addition, Corning MobileAccess solutions will be used in a deployment at the adjacent Robinson Center later next month. The Robinson Center features a 2,609-seat performance hall and 14,867 square feet of exhibition space. It is ideal for general sessions, award ceremonies, special programs, performances and corporate presentations.

"As a premier meetings destination, it is essential for us to have the most state-of-the-art amenities for the hundreds of events and thousands of attendees that we host each year," said Jim Rice, chief operating officer for the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We're now able to not only meet demand for coverage, and plan for future services and technologies without affecting the existing infrastructure of this versatile and elegant facility, but we are also enhancing our ability to secure and retain events through high-quality cellular voice and data services."

For more information on Corning MobileAccess solutions and how they can help convention and meeting centers achieve ubiquitous wireless service, please visit http://www.corning.com/mobileaccess .

About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated ( www.corning.com ) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 150 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware and equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and metrology.

About The Little Rock Statehouse Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is a full-service bureau, with over 120 professionals who offer support in convention sales and services, group tour planning, destination communications, housing, registration and event coordination. LRCVB provides information about hotels, dining, attractions, transportation and much more. In addition, the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau operates and manages the Statehouse Convention Center, the Robinson Center and Robinson Center Music Hall, The River Market,  the Shop the Rock retail outlet and visitor information center, and multiple parking facilities in the downtown area.