Verizon Invests in IMS Technology
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowVerizon says it has installed the same technology it used to increase wireless capacity at this year’s presidential inauguration and Super Bowl at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The company has installed five matsing balls, each with 36-60 antennas, throughout the track ahead of the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500. Steve Van Dinter with Verizon says data traffic at the 2016 race was more than double the previous year.
The matsing balls are large spheres that can each weigh more than 600 pounds. The largest was installed at Turn 3, where Verizon says it has increased coverage by 333 percent and capacity by 200 percent. The company says the balls will be activated and ready to go by May 13 for the INDYCAR Grand Prix.
Van Dinter says the project marks the first and largest permanent installation of matsing ball technology in the United States. He says, while the installations for the inauguration and Super Bowl were temporary, the technology will remain at IMS year-round. He tells Inside INdiana Business that the Indiana-Kentucky region is the company’s largest for venue capacity, thanks to the amount of universities as well as large venues such as the Speedway and Churchill Downs.
While Verizon has not released the investment total for the matsing balls, Van Dinter says "they are definitely not cheap."
Verizon is the title sponsor for the IndyCar Series.