Aura Wireless deploys private 5G testbed at Paso Robles airport

Aura Wireless said its Apogee Converge antenna is powering a private 5G testbed at Paso Robles Municipal Airport with Cal Poly Noyce Advanced Wireless Lab and Heddian. The project is meant to improve coverage for firefighting, airport operations and future spaceport infrastructure.

Why it matters: - Paso Robles Municipal Airport now has a live private wireless testbed aimed at mission-critical operations that need coverage across a large airfield. - The deployment is designed to support Cal Fire flight operations today and help lay groundwork for a possible commercial spaceport tomorrow. - The project shows how mid-size municipalities can use private wireless to extend connectivity without relying on traditional carrier infrastructure.

What happened: - Aura Wireless announced that its Apogee Converge converged Wi-Fi + CBRS antenna has been deployed in a private 5G testbed at Paso Robles Municipal Airport. - The deployment was completed with Cal Poly Noyce Advanced Wireless Lab and lead integrator Heddian. - The airport is a 1,300-acre facility in San Luis Obispo County. - The airport supports Cal Fire’s Paso Robles Air Attack Base, California Highway Patrol Coastal Air Operations and nearly 50,000 private aircraft operations a year. - The City of Paso Robles is pursuing an FAA commercial spaceport license with Cal Poly through the Paso Robles Space Innovation and Technology Park.

The details: - Airport Manager Mark Scandalis said the 5G network extends reliable internet service to areas that were previously unconnected because traditional infrastructure was too expensive to install. - The system is positioned as a cost-effective option for the airport and its customers. - Apogee Converge delivered full ramp coverage from a single node. - The antenna combines converged Wi-Fi and CBRS with Aura Wireless’s Asymmetric Gain technology and four programmable sectors. - The testbed is actively collecting data. - Current use cases under validation include perimeter security monitoring, aircraft data offloading, hangar tenant wireless services and improved connectivity for Cal Fire flight operations. - Aura Wireless said the deployment was built for environments with active flight lines, aerial tankers on the ramp and real-time data demands.

Between the lines: - The airport is serving as a real-world proof point for private wireless in a setting where coverage gaps can affect safety and operations. - The same network footprint that supports firefighting logistics may also support future commercial spaceport use, which suggests shared infrastructure could lower the cost of expansion. - Cal Poly students shadowed the deployment from rooftop installation through live RF validation, giving them exposure to a production environment rather than a lab-only exercise. - The Cal Poly Noyce Advanced Wireless Lab was created to close the gap between classroom learning and field deployment. - Cal Poly 5G Innovation Lab Chief Technical Manager Jonathan Polly said the collaboration helped establish a scalable wireless blueprint for the airport and broader community.

What's next: - The testbed will keep gathering data on the airport use cases now being validated. - The broader private wireless strategy could be extended across the City of Paso Robles. - The airport’s spaceport plans will depend on continued coordination with Cal Poly and the FAA licensing process. - Aura Wireless is positioning Apogee Converge for enterprise, municipal, industrial and agricultural deployments.

The bottom line: - Paso Robles is using a single-node private wireless deployment to tackle today’s aviation connectivity needs while building toward tomorrow’s spaceport ambitions.