In-building wireless, also known as distributed antenna systems (DAS), is a telecommunications system for enhancing and disseminating wireless connections throughout an office building or other large commercial area. A DAS may magnify an existing cell signal to link all cellular devices within a facility.
The majority of in-building wireless systems are professionally planned, developed, modified, and installed to the exact specifications of a building, utilizing a network of antennas, cables, and amplifiers to provide better cellular access to isolated locations or regions with poor coverage.
Smartphones are popular, with over eight billion mobile subscribers recorded in 2020. Most usage of the devices takes place indoors, mostly at work, home, or inside stores or offices. Unfortunately, indoor cell signal coverage varies by area. However, cell signal issues aren't always the responsibility of a carrier. The environment also matters, including the building where a smartphone is in use.
Every cell phone user has at some point experienced poor cell signal strength. Many people have even devised workarounds. Most people know which of their work areas have good mobile service and which do not. It is not uncommon to make important calls near a window or in the parking lot, where cell coverage is better.
In-building wireless design seeks to address these issues using a six-step approach. The first step is gathering requirements and conducting a needs assessment. A new wireless network might rapidly become outdated if future requirements are not anticipated. Several factors must be considered, such as the required frequency bands, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G. The assessment also looks at areas within a building that need enhanced coverage, whether the premise has the required network infrastructure, the capacity requirements, and how the newly installed equipment might affect the aesthetics of the building.
Next is a site survey and RF (radio frequency) system design. A site survey establishes the signal strength from various mobile providers and locates potential areas for antenna installation. A site survey tool that checks for signal quality and RF interference is used.
The third step is mobile operator cooperation and clearance to rebroadcast their licensed frequency. Mobile operators spend billions of dollars building up their networks to provide the greatest mobile experience. If the goal of the in-building wireless system is to improve user experience, access to mobile operator licensed frequencies is required.
Funding is the next step. Financing options for integrating in-building wireless technologies in existing buildings are available. While some businesses prefer to buy the technology outright through capital investments, others prefer to lease the equipment. With leasing, a financial services firm owns the equipment, while the business pays the financial services company a monthly service fee.
System installation, integration, and commissioning is the fifth step. Additional documents are prepared based on the RF design and the bill of materials (BOM) to clearly set out the system installation, integration, and commissioning information. These may comprise a fiber and cable design, a rack layout, a clock distribution design, a network design plan, and a gain lineup.
The last step is to monitor and maintain the systems. This entails remote access troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and on-site replacement parts and repair. Most businesses will enter into a service arrangement with a third party to provide such services. The in-building wireless system is then connected to the third party's network operating center (NOC) to for remote monitoring. If there are issues, their support staff may remotely access the system to determine the alarm and fault level. If they cannot resolve the issue remotely, they will then assign a professional to fix the problem on-site.