Vertical: Education
Application: Enhanced coverage and capacity
Ecosystem: Celona
Private Network: LTE, CBRS
The Campbell Union School District (CUSD) in California is taking a major step to address the digital divide in its community. Through a first-of-its-kind pilot project in the state, CUSD is deploying a new wireless network using the recently licensed Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum. This innovative approach not only tackles immediate connectivity challenges brought on by remote learning but also sets a model for future educational technology solutions.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to transition to distance learning, it quickly exposed the stark inequalities in internet access among students. Dr. Shelly Viramontez, Superintendent of CUSD, explained, “This project will help us overcome the lack of connectivity in our area, an existing gap that suddenly became a huge issue for many of our students when we moved to distance learning last spring.”
The release of the CBRS spectrum provided the perfect opportunity for CUSD to create a solution. By partnering with Joint Venture Silicon Valley and the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the district is building a wireless system that creates a private, secure network to connect students at home.
This project showcases the power of community collaboration. Funding and support have come from various sources, including:
- The County of Santa Clara
- Supervisor Susan Ellenberg
- Santa Clara County Office of Education
- Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital
County Supervisor Ellenberg emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Remote learning during the pandemic put a spotlight on the stark inequity of internet access. It became clear early on that we needed to provide support to all of these students who were suddenly learning from home and yet did not have adequate tools.”
The district is working with private LTE provider Celona to implement this CBRS-based private network. This technology has already proven effective in the region, with the Santa Clara County Office of Education reporting that 14,000 out of 16,000 new broadband connections created during the pandemic use similar private LTE infrastructure.
While initially conceived to address remote learning challenges, this project has far-reaching implications. It demonstrates how schools can leverage emerging technologies to create sustainable solutions for digital equity. As education continues to evolve in the digital age, initiatives like CUSD’s CBRS network pave the way for more inclusive and technologically advanced learning environments.
