DAS System Basics
Identifying the 3 different types of DAS Projects
A distributed antenna system (DAS) provides telecom companies a deployment method to deal with isolated spots of poor or no coverage both externally and inside buildings. Just as it sounds a DAS system is a network of relatively small antennas which supplement a carriers macro site coverage objectives and are therefore designed with a specific coverage goals. External DAS systems are known as O’DAS or outside DAS.
Today, businesses are finding a growing demand to provide a wide variety of wireless technologies in the indoor spaces. As mobile operators strive to improve services to their customers, they compete for access rights to indoor and outdoor venues such as stadiums, conference centers and casinos as well as corporate offices. The community’s desire is to have access no matter where they are and regardless of what carrier they have and therefore often this the need for coverage extends beyond the single operator carrier system.
Single Operator Carrier Systems
Single operator carrier systems are owned by the carrier (i.e. AT&T, Verizon Wireless etc) and supports voice and data devices from only one service provider. Typically, this solution is deployed in locations where there is a corporate account and the majority of the users in that location are from that specific service provider.
Enterprise systems
An enterprise system is a system provided and owned by the building. With this option, the enterprise has the ability to drive multicarriers to their facility and then charges the carrier for use of the system and in addition provide wifi and push content through their system to users. But since the entire deployment is owned by the facility the cost of implementation can be high. The enterprise owner can recoup these costs and potentially turn their system into a cash positive operation if the user demand is high and therefore the carriers are willing to subsidize their equipment deployment costs and lease system access.
Neutral Host Systems
The neutral host model is gaining prominence in certain situations. A neutral host DAS means the distributed antenna system is owned by a third party who is neither the building owner or a carrier. In this situation a company who specializes in the design and operation of DAS systems and therefore they take the responsibility of providing a system within a building to improve the buildings communication system a zero cost to the building and they in turn own and operate the DAS and lease access to the DAS system to the carriers. This model can reduce mobile operator costs, speed to market for multi operator service, and offload the responsibility for maintaining a DAS from a carrier to a third party (i.e. KMB).
KMB completed 70 DAS carrier and enterprise projects within the last year and 105 small cells designs. Some of the more high profile projects included:
- Yankee Stadium
- Empire State Building
- Lincoln Center
- New York Stock Exchange
- 1 World Trade Center – NYC
- 4 World Trade Center – NYC
- Norfolk Airport
- JFK Art Center
- Gillette Stadium
- Queens Center Mall – NY
- Palisades Mall – NJ
- Concord Mills – NC