AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that it is now Walt Disney World’s and Disneyland Resort’s official wireless provider. As a result, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) customers will discover that if they visit the parks, their reception will be much better.
AT&T to improve service throughout Walt Disney resorts
The agreement between AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Walt Disney World and Disneyland means that AT&T will improve the technology it uses to provide service inside the parks. CNET’s Marguerite Reardon reports that the company will be adding small cell technology into the parks. The technology will take the existing wireless spectrum owned by AT&T in the park and use it in smaller pieces to provide better coverage for the resources while also adding capacity in areas that are higher volume.
Other additions AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)) intends to make at the parks include some free Wi-Fi hotspots.
AT&T breaks down the technology additions
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) said it plans to add more than 25 antennae systems throughout the resorts in order to increase capacity at the parks. In addition, it will add 350 small cells, which will extend the network’s availability.
In Walt Disney World alone, the carrier will add 10 new cell sites to increase capacity and coverage, plus 50 new repeaters to improve the network’s coverage. A spokesperson for AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) said although reception was already good for the company’s customers at the parks, they wanted to improve reception and add capacity because many customers still had problems in certain buildings or areas of the resorts that were further away from the main areas.
AT&T follows the trends
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) senior vice president Chris Hill told CNET that many carriers are forming smaller cell sites which reuse some of their existing spectrum. In addition to using the technology at the Walt Disney resorts, he said the carrier will also implement it in many other cities and areas like stadiums where large crowds of people get together.
He said their cooperation with The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is an important part of their technology updates because using small cell technology requires that the access points actually be placed on Disney property. The access points are rather small and can be disguised so that they fit in with the area.
Customers who do not use AT&T though will not see the same improvements in service. At this point AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) said it isn’t planning on letting other carriers use its network in the Disney theme parks for roaming.
AT&T to handle Disney’s wireless services
In addition to the physical improvements planned at the resorts, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) said it will also begin handling wireless services for Disney, connecting 25,000 employees to mobile services. They also have made some agreements in terms of branding and marketing.
