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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Technology upgrades continued at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza with the approval of a project to improve WiFi connections inside and outside of the facility.
During its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority approved hiring Turn-key Technologies Inc. of Sayerville, New Jersey, for the WiFi project at a cost not to exceed $750,000.
Work could begin within three to four weeks and take an additional eight to 10 weeks to complete. Visitors would see a noticeable change in connectivity throughout the arena and for a short distance outside as they entered and exited the facility. Once it’s up and running, the network can be used by Apple and Android devices alike.
“We’re just about going from nothing to state-of-the-art WiFi,” Donna Cupinski, chairwoman of the authority’s Capital Improvements & Strategic Planning Committee said.
The authority hired Synergistic Networks of Wilkes-Barre at a cost of $13,485 to prepare Request for Proposals and review and score the bids from vendors. Synergistic rated Turn-key or TTI the highest and was allowed to work with them on putting together a package to design and install a wireless network infrastructure for the arena.
“We feel we’re at the point we can finalize everything and move forward,” Kris Wingard, director of technical services for Synergistic, told the authority members.
Two other projects were recently completed. The ribbon board debuted on Oct. 25 and the LED lighting on Nov. 9.
In other business, the authority approved hiring a grant writer at a cost not to exceed $3,500. Cupinski, who as chairwoman conducted the public meeting while chairman Gary Zingaretti was out of town, declined to identify the grant writer.
The authority also announced Pepsi was awarded the pouring rights contract to sell soft drinks, water and sports drinks at the arena.