LAS VEGAS – Smart City Networks, the nation’s largest provider of event technology services for the convention industry, has been awarded a new contract to remain the Greater Columbus Convention Center’s (GCCC) telecommunications and internet technology provider through SMG, the GCCC’s management company.
The 7½-year deal will extend the partnership through 2023 and calls for Smart City to provide a variety of digital infrastructure enhancements within the 1.7 million-square-foot venue, including:
- High-speed internet access in the exhibit halls and meeting rooms
- A Wi-Fi deployment of over 200 access points
- Upgraded network fiber and cabling
- Turnkey data networking, including local area, wide area and private networks
- High-density network that can handle high-capacity demands of large events at increased speeds
- One gigabit capability internet backbone to be increased to 10 gigabit bandwidth
As the new contract takes effect, Smart City’s network upgrades will be folded into the convention center’s current renovation and expansion project, which is scheduled for completion in July 2017. Smart City has committed to making additional infrastructure upgrades throughout the term of the agreement.
“Smart City Networks has partnered with the Greater Columbus Convention Center since 2000, delivering comprehensive and reliable network services to convention exhibitors, attendees and vendors,” noted Smart City President Mark Haley. “This new agreement means we can leverage those investments in technology and people to expand our telecommunications and internet support at Columbus well into the next decade.”
The contract renewal and upgrades will ensure guests continue to receive uninterrupted, integrated services for conventions and shows hosted by GCCC, including the Arnold Sports Festival, the world’s largest multi-sport fitness weekend; Cultivate, a Top 200 trade show produced by AmericanHort; the popular Ohio Education Technology Conference; and the Thirty-One Gifts conference for the 14th largest direct-selling company in North America. Demand for Wi-Fi and cellular telephone coverage at these and other events continues to grow with increased use of live streaming, videoconferencing, mobile data access and back-channel communications on social media.
About Smart City Networks
Founded more than 30 years ago, Smart City Networks is the nation’s largest provider of event telecommunications and technology in the convention industry. Smart City Networks can provide wired and wireless Internet services, phone services and digital signage solutions at convention centers and meeting facilities of any size. Smart City Networks designs, installs and maintains data, voice, electrical and utility platforms, coupled with voice, video and data network engineering, security and monitoring. Providing technology services to over 3,000 conventions and meetings annually, Smart City Networks currently serves more than 35 convention and meeting facilities across the U.S., totaling over 17 million square feet of exhibit space. For more information about Smart City Networks, please call 702-943-6000 or visit www.smartcitynetworks.com.
About Greater Columbus Convention Center
The Greater Columbus Convention Center, located in downtown Columbus, hosted an estimated 2.5 million visitors in 2015. The facility is owned by the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and is managed by SMG. It encompasses 1.7 million square feet of space, including Battelle Grand, the largest multi-purpose ballroom in Ohio.
About SMG
Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 240 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering company SAVOR, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information, visit www.smgworld.com.