SOURCEOrganization
Fresno Unified School District
Netsync ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: ChallengeChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
Reported deployment
Reported Fresno Unified School District private LTE network for students in Fresno, California
A Netsync case study; outcomes are vendor-reported and not independent measurements.
Involved in this project? Suggest a correctionDetails
- Organization
- Fresno Unified School District
- Industry
- K-12 education
- Region
- Fresno, California
- Current operating status
- Working network delivered; initial phase covers more than 25 schools (November 2021 case study)
- Not stated by sources
- Project date
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Overview
Fresno Unified School District in California built a private LTE network, called Connect2Learn, on CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum to give students home internet access, using Nokia Digital Automation Cloud with Netsync as integrator.[1][2] The district began rolling it out in mid-October 2021 and unveiled it in early November, with radios on 15 school sites serving neighborhoods around 25 schools in southeast and southwest Fresno, where commercial cell coverage was weak.[2] KSEE24 reported the $1.7 million project was paid for with federal pandemic relief funds and that only district-issued hotspots can join the network.[2] As of October 2026 the district's family help page still offers Connect2Learn to students living near the listed schools.[3]
At a glance
- Organization
- Fresno Unified School District, which Netsync describes as California's third-largest district, with 94 schools and 70,000 students.[1]
- Location
- Fresno, California: radios on 15 schools, covering students around 25 schools in southeast and southwest Fresno.[2]
- Date reported
- Netsync case study published November 2, 2021;[1] rollout began in mid-October 2021 and the district unveiled the network on November 5, 2021, KSEE24 reported.[2]
- Spectrum
- CBRS, with hotspots controlled through a Spectrum Access System (SAS).[1][4] Whether the district uses General Authorized Access (GAA) or Priority Access License (PAL) spectrum is not publicly stated.
- Technology
- Private LTE on Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (NDAC), with district-issued SMC-411A hotspots and Cradlepoint R500 modems.[1] The district's help page gives setup instructions for Cradlepoint hotspots.[3]
- Scale as reported
- Netsync says the first phase covers more than 25 schools and can support about 10,000 students, with up to 360 concurrent users per school site, a range of half a mile to a mile, and up to 100 Mbps depending on terrain and load.[1] The district's help page gives a reach of about half to three-quarters of a mile from each listed school.[3]
- Vendors and roles
- Nokia: Digital Automation Cloud private LTE. Netsync: responded to the district's request for proposals and managed the project. Cradlepoint: R500 modems.[1]
- Funding
- About $1.7 million from federal pandemic relief funds, KSEE24 reported.[2]
How the network is used
- Home internet for students in low-income neighborhoods where commercial cell service is spotty, limited to district-issued hotspots.[2]
- Support for students learning from home, including the district's online academy.[2]
- Netsync says the district built an app to track students' internet access on district-issued laptops.[1]
Reported results
As reported by the sources below; not independently verified.
- Netsync says private LTE costs the district less than buying hotspots from a commercial carrier. This is a vendor claim with no published figures.[1]
- No measured performance or usage results were published.[1][2]
- Netsync said in 2021 that a second phase would add nearly 30 sites,[1] and the superintendent said the district aimed to expand the service districtwide.[2] We found no report confirming the expansion.
Timeline
How to interpret this record
This record keeps the source's anonymous customer label and reported status. A case study does not establish current operation, reproducible performance, or independent verification.
Learn more
- Private 5G networks explained: what they are, how they work, what they cost and who sells themA plain-English guide to private 5G: what it is, the parts you need, CBRS spectrum, ways to deploy, cost drivers and U.S. examples.
- Private LTE networks: what they are and how to set one upWhat a private LTE network is, why most private networks still use LTE, the CBRS spectrum and equipment you need, and how to set one up.
- Private LTE vs private 5G: which one do you need?Private LTE or private 5G? The real differences, which devices work, what affects cost, and how to move from LTE to 5G later.
- How much does a private LTE or 5G network cost?What a private LTE or 5G network costs: three example budgets from about $10,000, what you pay for, CBRS and SAS fees, and ongoing costs.
Sources
Researched Oct 1, 2026. Manufacturer and vendor statements are their claims, not independent tests.
- Eliminating the Digital Divide for Students in Fresno, CA — Netsync, Nov 2, 2021. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- Fresno Unified launches its own LTE network for disadvantaged students — KSEE24 / YourCentralValley.com, Nov 5, 2021. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- FAQs — Fresno Unified School District, Family Learning and Technology Support (FLATS). Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- Fresno Unified School District Goes LTE Over Large Area — PrivateLTEand5G.com. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
Every detail in the table at the top comes from these sources. Open the source details for each fact’s publisher, evidence type, date, and where it appears.
Source details (6)
SOURCEIndustry
K-12 education
Netsync ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: ChallengeChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCERegion
Fresno, California
Netsync ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: ChallengeChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCEOperating status
working network delivered; initial phase covers more than 25 schools (November 2021 case study)
Netsync ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: A Solution to bridge the digital divideChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCEReported use case
home broadband for students using district-issued CBRS hotspots
Netsync ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: A Solution to bridge the digital divideChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCEVendors Named
Nokia (Digital Automation Cloud), Netsync (integrator), Cradlepoint R500 modem
Netsync ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Solution summaryChecked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated