Hockey fans won't suffer dropped calls and will be able to easily send photos and watch live video on their mobile devices next season, thanks to the installation of a new Wi-Fi system at Nationwide Arena.

Hockey fans won�t suffer dropped calls and will be able to easily send photos and watch live video on their mobile devices next season, thanks to the installation of a new Wi-Fi system at Nationwide Arena.

The new system is the result of a deal between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Mobilitie, the nation�s largest privately held provider of wireless infrastructure.

The project is scheduled to be ready in time for the Blue Jackets� home opener against the New York Rangers on Oct. 11.

Nationwide Arena�s original Wi-Fi system was a limited, password-protected network and not widely available to guests and visitors, club officials said.

The newly installed system features 263 access points placed throughout Nationwide Arena, covering the arena itself as well as media facilities, locker rooms and offices. Patrons can use the wireless network instead of their phone bandwidth, which means they will experience fewer dropped calls.

Mobilitie previously installed an upgraded antenna system in April 2013 to improve cellular coverage within Nationwide Arena.

The improvements are part of the team�s efforts to keep up with customer needs, said Larry Hoepfner, Blue Jackets executive vice president of business operations.

�They consume sports differently than 10 years ago,� Hoepfner said. �Fans attending games and special events now expect a fully immersive experience.�

Using the greater capability to connect on mobile units, fans will be able to watch replays, interact with the club on social channels or get other content. Team officials are looking at such other offerings as apps that will assist with finding or upgrading seats, ordering refreshments and providing in-game video.

The move to beef up cellular and Wi-Fi service is part of a trend among sporting venues, said telecommunications analyst Jeff Kagan.

�This is the story across America in venue after venue, industry after industry,� Kagan said. � Wi-Fi is taking over.�

The extensive use of mobile devices has frequently overwhelmed technology installed as recently as two years ago, especially in concrete and steel buildings that can often hinder wireless connection.

�Wi-Fi connectivity has been, for the past 24 to 36 months, the hot issue for stadiums and arenas around the country,� Hoepfner said. �Not every building has it, so we feel lucky to get it."

Mobilitie is paying for the project, so there will be no expense to the Blue Jackets or to arena owner Franklin County, club officials said. Carriers have recently begun to pay for such installations on their own, partly to retain customers and partly to gain revenue from such sources as mobile advertising, Kagan said.

Last year, Verizon installed nearly 300 small cell antennas in Ohio Stadium, the equivalent of eight cellular towers, to handle the heavy load on game days.

Huntington Park offers Wi-Fi on the suite level and behind home plate. This year, that coverage began to expand, �but it is still not 100 percent strong in all areas of the park,� said Ken Schnacke, general manager of the Clippers.

tferan@dispatch.com