AccessParks, the first and only broadband provider approved as a concessionaire by the US National Park Service, and FreedomFi announced a multi-year partnership to deploy 5G networks across hundreds of sites within US national and state parks.
Using Magma’s open-source 5G network software, millions of tourists visiting national and state park locations every year can share their experience online and benefit from emergency connectivity once outdoors.
The network will use a 5G Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum that will meet FCC requirements of broadband connectivity. Using FreedomFi distribution of Magma makes it possible to build this network using radios from a variety of vendors, ensuring that it is free from lock-in. Magma architecture also makes it possible for the network to have roaming agreements with mobile network operators and MVNOs.
"We've considered a variety of software options for this network rollout, both closed source and open source. In the end we decided that Magma distribution provided by FreedomFi is the optimal choice," said Tim Rout, CEO at AccessParks. "Magma has the most momentum out of all open source alternatives and its access agnostic architecture enables us to take advantage of the radio innovation from a variety of vendors and to stay in control of our destiny."
The project is already active in nine locations, including the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. With several sites being added every week, the current plan is to have hundreds of highly trafficked tourist locations covered by the end of 2021.
"We are honored to have been selected by AccessParks for this ambitious project," said Boris Renski, CEO at FreedomFi. "AccessParks' requirements for sophisticated network topologies, MNO roaming capabilities and, most importantly, stability are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with the CBRS technology today. It's been a tremendous opportunity to refine the open 5G network ecosystem."
AccessParks was recently awarded a contract to deploy 5G wireless technologies to over 200 California state parks, and the FreedomFi technology will be a critical component in many of those installations.