Page 36 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

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AT&T Reaches New Milestone in Unlocking RAN, Makes World’s First eCPRI
Call for Millimeter Wave

AT&T’s millimeter wave (mmWave) step in creating an open architecture within in a build. The benefits of this expanded
introduction in 21 cities and counting the Radio Access Network (RAN). Some flexibility and capacity will make it easier
is bringing ultra-fast connections to cell phone users probably haven’t heard of to deploy mmWave in markets where laying
businesses across the country. And a the Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI), fiber is difficult or impractical, and promote
connection we made last week in Redmond, but it’s used by carriers today to provide cost effective operations by giving carriers
WA will potentially enable us to expand the connection between the radio and the the flexibility to use a variety of vendors
those mmWave deployments faster and base station which is often referred to to help bring fastest deployments at the
more efficiently. AT&T made the world’s as “fronthaul.” The CPRI interface today best cost. Reaching this milestone is a
first enhanced Common Public Radio has proprietary aspects which can result result of countless hours of work with
Interface (eCPRI) connection for mmWave in a slower or more costly network build our collaborators to develop and test
at our 5G Labs in Redmond. The calls were as we increase the bandwidth served the software and equipment needed to
made using systems from both Nokia and requiring more fibers per radio. eCPRI is establish this eCPRI connection. The
Samsung Electronics America. This opens an enhancement of that technology. It’ll open RAN ecosystem we’re driving helped
the door for higher network throughput increase the efficiency to support higher enable this significant step today and will
with less fiber, which will create more bandwidth across fewer fibers. It is also help spur future achievements that are
efficient mmWave deployments, among what open interfaces are being built on, good not only for AT&T and our customers,
other benefits. This is also a significant making it easier to use multiple vendors but for industry innovation.

AT&T Enhances Safety in the Hospitality Industry

AT&T is deploying an integrated, wearable device that will help to market. Together, we will work to ensure hotels remain safe
hotel employees to summon assistance in certain threatening and welcoming places for all who work in and visit them.” HTNG
situations. Various jurisdictions across the country are requiring is an association that brings together hospitality professionals
safety buttons for the hospitality industry in an effort to prioritize and technology providers to facilitate the development of next-
employee safety. The American Hotel & Lodging Association generation solutions. “We fully support AHLA and the 5-Star
(AHLA) along with major hotel brands, have pledged to provide Promise and have aligned our organization to build on these
hotel employees across the U.S. with employee safety devices. efforts,” said HTNG’s CEO Michael Blake. “I’m excited to be able
This is part of their program called the 5-Star Promise to help to welcome AT&T to the community of providers who are helping
enhance the safety and security of hotel workers. We developed us address and solve this very important issue.” AT&T’s IoT
the AT&T Staff Alert Service to help address this need. It includes Professional Services organization is working with major hotel
a compact, lightweight device that activates an alert when an brands to deploy the solution across the U.S.
employee presses the button. The employee’s exact location is
then transmitted to hotel security for immediate assistance.
The AT&T Staff Alert Service operates through a combination of
Bluetooth, ultrasound and 4G LTE connectivity to provide micro-
location data. This reduces the risk of a congested Wi-Fi network
and enables for alerts in near real time. The service can be
customized and is also interoperable with other IoT applications
in the hotel such as building management and asset tracking.
“Employee safety solutions play a critical role in helping to prevent
and respond to threatening situations,” said Chris Penrose,
President of AT&T’s Advanced Mobility and Enterprise Solutions
organization. “We’re pleased to work with the hospitality industry
to apply IoT technology to help keep their workers safe.” “Hoteliers
care deeply about the safety and security of their employees and
guests,” said Kevin Carey, COO and EVP of AHLA. “As we approach
the one-year anniversary of the 5-Star Promise, AHLA is proud of
not only the commitment of our member companies, but also the
work of companies such as AT&T to incorporate new technologies

36 SEPTEMBER 2019