When it Comes to DAS, World Trade Center Sets its Sights High

August 13, 2014

By J. Sharpe Smith —

August 13, 2014 — The September 11th attacks became Exhibit One for the communications needs of public safety and the public. Consequently, in-building communications are a cornerstone of the new World Trade Center, with its spire 1,776 feet in the air, as it deploys public safety and commercial DAS systems across its sprawling campus.

One World Trade Center (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Boingo Wireless won the commercial contract to design, install and operate a neutral host, cellular DAS network and Wi-Fi network covering 1.6 million square feet of the World Trade Center, according to an agreement signed last week with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. One of the nation’s largest public safety communications centers was deployed at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.

In May, the Port Authority, through its prime contractor, Five Star Electric, awarded Pinnacle Wireless, a public safety integrator, a $37 million wireless systems integration contract for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub using Axell Wireless equipment. Work was scheduled to be complete in June.

Comprehensive Coverage for Cell Phones

The cellular DAS system deployed by Boingo will provide comprehensive coverage to more than 1.6 million square feet of the World Trade Center, including the Port Authority Transportation Hub, the vehicle security center, retail spaces and other core facilities throughout the buildings.

Boingo will also install high-density Wi-Fi networks, providing complimentary Wi-Fi access to visitors throughout the public areas of the Transportation Hub, retail spaces and other core locations. Wireless services are scheduled to launch timed to the opening of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in 2015.

The Transportation Hub is projected to be the third largest in New York City, serving more than an estimated 100 million passengers and visitors annually, and it will provide pedestrian access to the WTC, the World Financial Center, PATH and the New York Subway system. The Vehicle Security Center will be a transportation center for building tenants, administration and visitor vehicles.

Boingo has a longstanding relationship with the Port Authority providing DAS and Wi-Fi services at the Port Authority’s John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark airports, as well as DAS services in the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels.

Axell Wireless Covers the Public Safety Side

The Transportation Hub also serves as the communications hub, serving all the of the
World Trade Center buildings. The integrated public safety system includes Axell Wireless’ optical master unit fiber head end units, directional couplers, VHF filters and distribution amplifier packages covering 88 channels for UHF, VHF and 800-MHz frequency bands. The high-speed system involved laying more than 5 miles of high-capacity optical fiber.

This contract is Pinnacle’s sixth project at the World Trade Center site since 2005, each of which uses Axell Wireless equipment. In addition to the Transportation Hub, Pinnacle and Five Star have been awarded similar contracts for the National September 11th Museum & Memorial, World Trade Center Pavilion, World Trade Center Central Chiller Plant and World Trade Center Building 7.

In March, a public safety system was deployed at One World Trade Center using passive DAS equipment by Axell Wireless. The $11.8 million contract to integrate the system was awarded to a joint venture between TechMer and North American Mobile Systems. The contract includes engineering, design, furnishing, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of the first responders communications system.

Axell Wireless’ in-building wireless system will be integrated into the site-wide system in the event of an emergency. Each of the 11 buildings in the World Trade Center complex bids out the DAS contracts separately. DAS at World Trade Center Four is currently being bid, and the in-building network at World Trade Center Seven has not yet been built.

The systems will support New York City Police, Transit Police, Fire Department of New York, Homeland Security, and other federal and state organizations.