CUSTOMER

Waco Independent School District

CHALLENGE

Waco ISD faced a financial dilemma when seeking Wi-Fi for professional development training courses at a local hotel. The hotel’s quote was exorbitant, prompting Waco ISD to seek a more cost-effective solution.

SOLUTION

Premier Wireless provided Waco ISD with two robust, portable 5G Network-in-a-Boxes and wireless access points powered by T-Mobile’s 5G network, ensuring a reliable, high-speed connection for all.

RESULTS

Waco ISD’s investment in their portable 5G network provided reliable Wi-Fi for their professional development courses, saving money compared to the hotel’s high Wi-Fi costs. This equipment ensures ongoing cost savings for future events, making it a financially wise and sustainable decision.

PRODUCT

Premier’s 5G Network-in-a-Box is a durable, shock-resistant system with a Peplink 5G router, 4x4 MIMO cellular and Wi-Fi, GPS, and an 8-hour battery. It offers centralized remote management, real-time monitoring, and advanced security features like VPN, firewall, and user access controls.

Transforming Wi-Fi Challenges into Solutions for Waco ISD

5G Network-in-a-Box · Waco Independent School District

Waco Independent School District (Waco ISD) faced a significant challenge in providing reliable and cost-effective Wi-Fi for their off-site Professional
Development (PD) days. These sessions required high-speed internet to access digital resources, participate in virtual collaborations, and utilize
cloud-based tools. However, the hotel’s quote for internet access was prohibitively expensive, making it financially unfeasible for the district.

Beyond immediate financial concerns, Waco ISD needed a sustainable, long-term solution. The professional development courses were crucial for teacher training and growth, and any interruption in connectivity could severely impact their effectiveness. The district sought a cost-effective, robust, portable, and versatile solution to various needs.

Finding the Right Solution

To address this challenge, Waco ISD partnered with Premier Wireless and T-Mobile. Premier Wireless proposed its 5G Network-in-a-Box, a portable Wi-Fi solution powered by T-Mobile, which delivers high-speed internet quickly and easily. Each Peplink 5G router provided connectivity for up to 150 devices, ensuring robust service for Waco ISD’s estimated 100 participants. Additionally, it offered CIPA-compliant filtering and network security for safe browsing.

A key advantage was quickly setting up the network, establishing connectivity in less than two minutes. Premier pre-configured the network settings before the event, allowing Waco ISD to manage it with minimal effort. Wireless access points (WAPs) were deployed to ensure reliable coverage in the hotel’s large conference room and multiple breakout rooms, providing consistent high-speed internet access throughout the venue.

This solution met Waco ISD’s immediate needs and provided a long-term solution for future events, field trips, and emergency response capabilities. The 5G Network-in-a-Box’s portability and scalability allow the district to host future events at virtually any location without connectivity concerns or incurring additional expenses.

Seeing the Results

Implementing Premier’s 5G Network-in-a-Box yielded significant benefits for Waco ISD. The most immediate result was the substantial cost savings. By investing in Premier’s 5G Network-in-a-Box, the district avoided
the hotel’s exorbitant one-time fee, providing immediate financial relief for its PD plans. More importantly, long-term savings are substantial, as the district will no longer incur additional costs for internet access at future events.

The 5G Network-in-a-Box also offers enhanced control and monitoring features through its comprehensive management portal, InControl 2. This centralized dashboard provides detailed usage reporting, real-time GPS tracking, and advanced security settings. These features allow Waco ISD to effectively manage its network, monitor internet usage, and ensure compliance with internet policies. Including CIPA-compliant filtering further underscores the district’s commitment to providing all users a safe and secure digital environment. Additionally, InControl 2 facilitates easy firmware updates, device configuration, and remote troubleshooting, ensuring optimal performance and minimal downtime.

Looking to the Future

This strategic investment has empowered Waco ISD with the independence to plan and execute events with reliable internet connectivity, fostering an
improved environment for teachers’ and staff’s professional development and beyond. Premier’s 5G Network-in-a-Box exceeded Waco ISD’s expectations by providing a reliable, cost-effective, and flexible Wi-Fi solution that will benefit the district for years. This solution ensures seamless, affordable connectivity for offsite events and prepares the district for critical emergency response activities.

5G Network-in-a-Box

The Premier 5G Network-in-a-Box provides on-the-spot connectivity and maintains an uninterrupted connection and communication, offering data-driven decisions: and providing availability, timeliness, and accuracy. Simply open the box, turn it on, and open the vents. You are ready to go!

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