DAS: THE solution for improved indoor coverage

You hold a responsibility in the operation of a facility or construction such as a large office building, hotel or stadium. You get reports that the indoor coverage of wireless signals such as GSM, LTE and/or those networks used for public safety (C2000/ASTRID) is poor. You need to improve the indoor coverage but cannot force the operators to put in additional capacity. Furthermore it is essential that you are flexible towards future networks that may arrive.

Why is indoor coverage important?
In the world we live in nowadays being ‘connected’ is essential. Both daily business as well as our social life highly depend on it. Operators invest year after year to improve coverage and service levels. However, mobile connections typically rely on macrocells which are deployed outside to cover areas of several square kilometers at times. This almost seems contradictory knowing that over 80% of mobile traffic originates indoors. 

Basic principle
For these types of situations there is an answer called: DAS, which stands for Distributed Antenna System. Instead of using a single antenna to transmit, the basic idea of such a system is that multiple (low-power) antennas are connected to a centralized radio source. The result? A reduced total output and improved reliability. It also opens up to flexibility since by placing antennas strategically hard-to-reach areas can be covered.

Go passive, get active or think hybrid
Every DAS is unique, but when looking at the technique that is used for the distribution of the signal throughout the building, you can clearly identify 3 types of DAS, namely;

• Passive 
• Active
• Hybrid 

Each type has its own advantages and shortcomings. Please feel free to read more about each system type by clicking on the system type.

Step by step
In order to successfully design and implement a DAS, you will have to go through a lot of processes and there are many challenges to overcome. In most cases you will start with identifying the problem by carrying out radio measurements. After this stage, a report will be drawn up with conclusions and an advice for a system type. Depending on the choice a design of the system will be made in iBWave. Finally, when the design has been made final, it is time to install the system. Usually there is another round of measurements with the system in place to make sure that the system works as it should.

Heynen & DAS
Over the past 65 years, the telecom sector has become a well-known field for Heynen. We provide solutions on a daily basis to leading companies in the telecommunications industry. On the other side, we also work with top-class manufacturers that allow us to fulfill the important task of keeping the world connected.

We connect our DAS-components and expertise to your mobile coverage challenge. Your project is leading and together with our partners, we can offer you guidance along the way. Thanks to our active and passive DAS-solutions you will never get disconnected again.

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