Wireless carriers use Miami Super Bowl to spotlight new 5G technology

For wireless carriers, the Super Bowl in Miami has become a big game beyond the field. Why? When 65,000 people all try to upload selfies and video of J.Lo.’s half-time show, network congestion ensues.

The game lets carriers show off their access chops and also argue for their superior quality in the next generation of mobile connectivity -- 5G.

Verizon, with its sponsorship of a marquee NFL event this week in Miami, has put in its bid. It says it spent $80 million to bring 5G to the Hard Rock Stadium and Miami sites and held demonstrations to show its 5G off.

Not to be outdone, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint all have made game plays too.

But few people have 5G capable phones. So as a practical matter, what counts is 4G connectivity. AT&T, for example, says it tripled 4G at the Hard Rock.

Sprint vice president of networks Scott Santi says Sprint upgraded 277 of 300 transmitting sites around Miami in the last year. His company’s dual 4G/5G gear has enhanced LTE capability around the town and especially at airports, hotels, meeting sites and other places the NFL expects a crowd.

As for the Hard Rock, Sprint says it will have the equivalent of 10 macro cell towers there.

Meanwhile, 5G rollout in Florida and nationally continues to go slowly for all carriers. 5G allows massive amounts of data -- like a fan’s video of the National Anthem -- to be transmitted fast but not far. Plus, 5G has trouble getting past physical walls. That necessitates a blanket of signaling devices to provide 5G in a given area.

Sprint has opened nine markets nationally to 5G. None is in Florida but Kansas City, where Sprint is based, is one. That’s good news for any Chiefs fan with a 5G-capable phone at Sunday’s game.

Santi says the gear remains when the game packs up. “100% of what we’ve done there is going to stay,” he says. “It’s for the long-term usage of our customers.”

And next? “We are preparing for next year’s Super Bowl, which is in Tampa,” Santi says.

See previous Florida Trend content:
» Florida's 5G technology revolution is coming
» Florida Legislature and local 5G technology issues
» Florida companies building 5G infrastructure are ramping up hiring