Vertical: Education
Application: Neutral Host Network
Ecosystem: DISH Wireless, Cisco, Internet2
Private Network: 5G
DISH Wireless and Cisco have partnered with Internet2 to launch a Neutral Host Network (NHN) pilot at Duke University, leveraging the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) shared spectrum. This innovative project aims to revolutionize campus connectivity and pave the way for future wireless solutions in higher education.
The pilot, set to launch in the summer of 2022, seeks to validate the feasibility of a scalable, multi-tenant architecture using CBRS technology. By integrating Duke University’s private network with DISH Wireless’ 5G network, the project promises to deliver a unified solution for both cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity across the campus.
Tracy Futhey, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Duke University, highlighted the significance of this initiative: “Rather than providing two separate infrastructures throughout our campuses — cellular and Wi-Fi — the holy grail has always been for a single, common network delivering both cellular and high-speed private Wi-Fi. The recent availability of CBRS, together with our collaboration with Internet2, DISH Wireless and Cisco, makes this vision a reality.”
The deployment utilizes a combination of unlicensed General Authorized Access (GAA) and Priority Access License (PAL) spectrum, specifically a DISH PAL supplemented with GAA spectrum. This approach allows for a more efficient and cost-effective use of the available spectrum.
Stephen Bye, Chief Commercial Officer at DISH Wireless, emphasized the potential impact of this project: “The goal of this innovative neutral host proof of concept is to improve the quality of the connectivity across Duke’s campus through the use of a private CBRS-connected 5G network. Our objective is to enhance connectivity across the campus with this groundbreaking collaboration with our partners.”
This project emerged from the Future Wireless Working Group (FWWG), established by Internet2 in March 2020. The FWWG brought together university CIOs and technology leaders to address the evolving connectivity needs of higher education institutions.
Howard Pfeffer, President and CEO of Internet2, expressed enthusiasm for the project: “We are excited to help our higher education members evaluate the use of advanced wireless technologies across a variety of innovative uses. Our operational capabilities for services, combined with our role as a convener, allows Internet2 to bring together and enable unique collaborations between universities and leading industry providers.”
