With only days to go before the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda gets under way, Digicel Bermuda has brought a mobile cell tower to the Island to boost its network coverage.

The arrival of the $300,000 cell on wheels (COW) is part of a strategy to enhance the company’s network during periods of extraordinary peak usage, such as major public events. It is also part of Digicel Bermuda’s advance preparations for the Island’s hosting of the 35th America’s Cup in 2017.

Digicel will test and optimally configure the equipment this week ahead of the World Series races and associated activities at the weekend, when it is anticipated there will be an increase in demand for wireless services.

“We are expecting 5,000 to 10,000 people on Front Street enjoying the America’s Cup festivities and we are seeking to make sure they can all do so while getting online, sharing pictures and generally letting the world know how extraordinary Bermuda is,” said Robin Seale, CEO of Digicel Bermuda.

COW expands coverage and capacity to meet short-term needs. It also assists in ensuring the quality and consistency of the Island’s data network during times of increased volume, as is expected to happen during the World Series.

The technology has been deployed overseas at major sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, and in the wake of natural disasters, including in New Orleans after much of the cellular infrastructure was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

While in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 36 COWs were placed in Lower Manhattan to boost phone coverage for emergency services personnel.

In a statement, the Digicel Bermuda said its network will handle the demands from data users under anything other than exceptional conditions.

“When large numbers of people are congregated for major events, any mobile network can struggle to meet the localised peak in demand. The COW provides a solution to handle such spiked activity without degradation of service either for people at the event or elsewhere,” the company said in its statement.

Julian Burton, commercial director at Digicel Bermuda, said: “The mobile cell tower will be used to add capacity to the network for mass attendance events. There is a specific need for the World Series, but also for things such as Cup Match where we can underpin our network.”

He believes it is the first time a cell on wheels has been used in Bermuda for a specific event.

The equipment will be deployed for the America’s Cup World Series in Bermuda and for future large-scale public events on the Island.

After the World Series events, Digicel’s COW is to be used “moving forward at key events where capacity is required”, the company said.