Dense Air and Millennium Parking Garages proudly announce the successful completion of an innovative pilot project designed to enhance cellular connectivity in difficult-to-reach underground locations, made possible through collaboration with AT&T and T-Mobile networks.
In May, Dense Air and Millennium Parking Garages joined forces to transform these facilities into a testing ground for next-generation cellular solutions. The goal: to tackle one of the most challenging connectivity issues—delivering consistent, high-quality service through dense, subterranean structures.
We are excited to share that the collaboration has been a resounding success. By deploying cellShare™, a cutting-edge multi-carrier small cell solution, Dense Air managed to overcome the usual challenges associated with underground coverage. Within weeks, seamless cellular service was available throughout the parking garage, a process that typically takes months, if not years, to complete with traditional methods.
Issac Riggs, Chief Operations Officer of Millennium Garages, praised the partnership: “Our previous attempts to enhance cellular communication within our garages were challenging, but Dense Air has delivered a scalable solution. Their rapid deployment, seamless carrier integration, and innovative design have given us the confidence that this project can succeed on a larger scale.”
Streamlined Deployment and Seamless Integration
During the initial phase, the teams worked together to design and implement an efficient deployment strategy. This ensured minimal disruption to the facility while maximizing the speed of installation. Dense Air’s system seamlessly integrated with the existing T-Mobile and AT&T networks, utilizing Millennium’s infrastructure, including a gigabit enterprise network and fiber backbone, as well as dedicated server space.
In the second phase, Dense Air expanded the public cellular network by leveraging advanced software and network configurations, ensuring robust and consistent connections for subscribers of both AT&T and T-Mobile. The result was enhanced voice quality and faster data speeds, significantly improving the user experience.
JR Wilson, Vice President of Tower Strategy and Roaming at AT&T, remarked: “We’re pleased with the improvements Dense Air’s neutral host solution has provided. This innovative approach has helped deliver additional coverage in challenging areas like underground garages.”
Impressive Results in Record Time
The pilot has demonstrated remarkable results. Users saw a remarkable improvement in connectivity, with speeds soaring from no coverage to download rates reaching up to 250 Mbps. This upgrade now enables seamless calls, texting, and data use, with speeds that allow customers to download apps, stream videos, and browse the internet without interruptions—whether entering or exiting the garage. Remarkably, the entire deployment was completed in just 28 days, significantly faster than traditional Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS).
During Lollapalooza, a major music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park, visitors within the pilot area enjoyed consistent download speeds, peaking at 160 Mbps even during the busiest times. Average speeds of around 40 Mbps during peak usage ensured that attendees could easily access their tickets, use apps, and share experiences on social media without delays.
Future Enhancements for Customer Connectivity
As the project moves into its next phase, Millennium Parking Garages will explore several new applications to further improve customer connectivity, such as:
- Navigation and wayfinding (e.g., “Find My Car”)
- Electric Vehicle (EV) charging
- Digital signage integration
- Connected sensors for tracking occupancy and environmental data
A New Standard for Underground Connectivity
This project represents a significant step forward in rapid deployment and reliable underground cellular service. Jim Estes, CEO of Dense Air, commented: “The success of the cellShare™ solution at Millennium’s underground garage highlights our ability to transform connectivity in even the most challenging environments. Through seamless integration with AT&T and T-Mobile, we’re providing both partners and customers with unprecedented coverage.”
Dense Air’s innovative approach continues to set new benchmarks for the telecommunications industry, ensuring that connectivity challenges in complex locations can be solved faster and more efficiently than ever before.
