Boldyn Networks is in the midst of upgrading parts of the transit system in the San Francisco Bay Area so that riders will get better connectivity on their commutes, with AT&T being the first carrier publicly committing to use the distributed antenna system (DAS) network.
Through a partnership with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), millions of passengers will see improved wireless connectivity across tunnels, stations, rail cars and surrounding areas, according to Boldyn.
Christos Karmis, CEO of Boldyn Networks U.S. business, said the next-generation DAS for SFMTA is an extension of Boldyn’s high-density fiber footprint in the region, which delivers 5G and data center access and enables connected buildings to better serve residents and businesses across the entire San Francisco and Bay Area.
“We have completed a lot of the construction work,” he told Fierce. “They’re not fast systems to build because we’re relatively limited in terms of work windows and access given the train schedule.”
The trains don’t run 24/7, so there are windows when the system isn’t running, which usually means a couple hours late into the night or early morning when they can do the work, which extends the deployment cycle but doesn’t interrupt commuters. That's different from its work in New York, where the trains run 24/7.
First phase done
The initial phase of the San Francisco project is already done and Karmis expects the whole project – which entails wireless coverage across 11 miles of tunnels and 11 underground stations – will be done within this calendar year. It’s LTE and 5G and built to accommodate all the major carriers, which Boldyn has been working with throughout the design and approvals for the system.
AT&T is the first to be announced and another major carrier is on the system, but the identity of that one remains under wraps. “Ultimately, we would expect all the carriers to be on the system relatively quickly,” he said.
Especially in a transit system like this, it’s most economical to build one network, initially funded by Boldyn, that all the carriers can use rather than try to build multiple networks in this environment.
Ultimately, new Wi-Fi will provide connectivity in the trains as well as the stations, in addition to the cellular coverage. “There’s a lot of factors that go into the timing of when that can go on air,” including when access points are installed on the next-generation Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains. He said that will probably be a 2025 event.
Boldyn Networks split off from the Australian part of the business this summer and established itself as a separate entity, bringing together all these companies under one name: BAI Communications, Mobilitie, Transit Wireless, ZenFi Networks, Signal Point Systems and Vilicom. Karmis is the former CEO of Mobilitie.
The company is in a lot of different markets but it’s dominant in the transit space in particular, he noted. In addition to San Francisco, it has a massive deployment underway now in New York that includes underground tunnels and more than 400 stations.
Boldyn has a lot of experience at sports and entertainment venues and recently announced plans to bring an indoor 5G DAS to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, as well as for the Nashville Yards’ new music venue in downtown Nashville.
The company sometimes builds neutral host networks based on team schedules at stadiums across the country – it’s easier to deploy gear when it’s empty, for example – but it’s not a speculative build firm, he said. “We do a lot of diligence into the design and cost of the network to make sure that we’re successful,” including discussions up front with carriers, he said.
Boldyn employs about 500 people in the U.S. and is recruiting for about 100 positions in various departments. “We’ve got a significant hiring initiative going on right now,” he said, with several large deployments underway, including the ones in San Francisco and New York.