Regardless of the size or nature of your business, the need for reliable and robust wireless communications is a constant. The need for bandwidth to facilitate data transfer has skyrocketed. It has been estimated that 80% of cellular phone calls begin or end inside a building. DAS provides building owners with added value for their tenants and their employees by enabling the use of mobile devices throughout the building. A DAS can support multiple cellular carriers and even improve the battery life of phones.

The construction techniques and materials used today such as concrete walls, steel beams, and energy-saving windows block or degrade internal and external wireless communications. Distributed antenna systems (DAS) were designed to extend wireless coverage within structures and enable radios and cellphones to work regardless of their position within the building.

A DAS consists of a network of antennas that offer comprehensive wireless cellular service for an area, structure or building. DAS technology was developed to address problems with mobile connectivity faced by many building owners. Quite simply, DAS gives your building a huge signal boost without having to change construction plans or risk code compliance or cellular connectivity. DAS is something everyone, everywhere in the building can benefit from in a very direct and immediate way.

How Does DAS Work?

Active DAS consists of a wide network of antennas that are connected to the base station using fiber, ethernet, and coaxial cabling. These antennas collect the signal from the participating carrier network and send it to the base station where the signals are enhanced and then redistributed through all rooms of the building using a system of internal antennas.

Types of DAS Systems:

There are two types of DAS systems – Outdoor DAS (oDAS) and Indoor DAS (iDAS).

Outdoor DAS (oDAS)

A large-scale Outdoor Distributed Antenna System (oDAS) will provide wireless coverage in outdoor environments. Outdoor venues pose several serious challenges to wireless connectivity and DAS as a whole. Outdoor DAS solutions are for areas that are not suitable for tower solutions and are very similar to indoor DAS systems with a mixture of Macro and in-building equipment to adapt to the environment for installation.

This is especially important in large open spaces such as parking lots, outdoor shopping complexes, large business or educational campuses, and outdoor arenas, where seamless wireless coverage is essential and towers may not be an option due to capacity limitations.

• Capacity or coverage needs
• Tough permitting environments
• Densely populated areas

Indoor DAS (iDAS)

iDAS is the most common form of DAS infrastructure in use. Indoor DAS is more common and is used to efficiently distribute wireless coverage and capacity for indoor facilities such as buildings, malls, stadiums, public halls, and so on. The use of a DAS will allow indoor facilities to provide cellular coverage in previously unreachable areas.

As more new buildings are constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards or other energy-efficient building standards required by local building codes, such as high-rise office buildings, hospitality venues, and large sports, and entertainment venues, cellular dead zones within buildings have become more prevalent. Integrated Communications engineers and delivers robust DAS solutions that not only provide the coverage you need today, but also are future proof for the requirements of tomorrow.

• Venues with poor wireless penetration
• High subscriber traffic

Integrated Communications has experience in DAS installations in challenging venues such as secure facilities, underground, as well as large arenas, office buildings, historic buildings and convention centers. Your employees and patrons will notice an immediate difference from the day before installation to the following day.