Dropped calls. Slow data speeds. Unreliable connectivity.
If your building is experiencing any (or all) of those performance issues by your network, it can be a sign the capabilities of your in-building distributed antenna system (DAS) have been outpaced by the advances in cellular technology utilized by carriers. Cellular DAS is a network of antennas connected to a common signal source that sends and receives network signals within a defined space, improving cellular voice and data connectivity for users.
Poor system performance creates a negative user experience, impacts productivity, and leads to frustration from users who rely on wireless connectivity to perform daily functions. Wireless industry analysts state as much as 80 percent of all cellular network demand occurs inside buildings, and demand and data consumption will continue to increase exponentially as carriers continue the nationwide rollout of 5G services and innovators tap into the additional bandwidth and speed made available by the generational advancement in the network.
DAS has been an integral part of telecommunications infrastructure for both carriers and enterprise users for close to four decades. And like all forms of technology, a legacy DAS eventually needs to be replaced to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of modern telecommunications.
There are two primary reasons why a DAS reaches an “End of Life” state and needs to be upgraded – frequencies and features.
Why are Frequencies a Challenge?
Most DAS operating today were deployed over the last decade with third- and fourth-generation (3G, 4G) network frequencies in mind.
3G networks leveraged 850 MHz and Personal Communication Service (PCS, 1850-1990 MHz) spectrum.
The advent of 4G brought the addition of 700 MHz and Advanced Wireless Services (AWS, 1710-2155 MHz) onto DAS.
The introduction of the fifth-generation (5G) meant the addition of spectrum bands like Broadband Radio Service (BRS, 2.5 GHz), Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS, 3.55-3.7 GHz), and C-Band (3.4 & 3.7-3.98 GHz).
The evolution of preferred carrier spectrums has played the largest role in carrying a legacy DAS into an End of Life state. User expectations aren’t met because older DAS cannot leverage the newest frequencies and services made available by carriers. Put simply, a user’s cellular experience can be drastically different outside and inside the building because the signal outside the building originates from carrier towers featuring all the latest frequencies, enabling the best user experience on their respective cell phones. Additional issues can arise when those newer frequencies from a carrier’s outdoor network penetrate into a building at suboptimal signal levels for downlink and uplink, creating issues for newer end user devices capable of 5G ultra wideband spectrum. The differences in the quality of the signal and end user device quality of service leads to user frustration, and eventually, that becomes an issue for the building and DAS owner.
What Features are Available with an Upgraded DAS?
The primary reason to upgrade a legacy DAS is to take advantage of the many features offered by 5G frequencies and services. 5G brings a whole new set of features over its predecessor. It delivers enhanced mobile broadband and high-speed data rates. It also brings extreme capacity. Achieving these features depends on how your network and DAS were built.
Users that upgrade their DAS to 5G compatibility will tap into these immediate benefits:
Shouldn’t a Carrier Upgrade My DAS?
Over the last half-decade, a carrier’s interest in supporting enterprise DAS has evolved quite a bit. Originally, they were interested in supporting enterprise DAS because those business customers had corporately liable lines of service for employees. Carriers knew precisely how many lines of service were in a customer’s building and what percentage of its occupants utilized their service.
More recently, many companies have shifted to individually liable, bring-your-own-device scenarios that no longer guarantee that a plurality of users in a building are with one carrier. This shift in corporate behavior has offset the carriers’ justification for DAS in many enterprise situations. That’s not to say carriers no longer support DAS for enterprise customers, as they will under very specific situations with proven upside for the carrier. Still, financial support for carrier-paid upgrades has significantly changed during this decade.
Why Choose Pierson Wireless for My DAS Upgrade?
When upgrading your DAS, trust the experts with a proven track record of success. Pierson Wireless is one of the most trusted names in cellular enhancement, with over two decades of expertise in cutting-edge DAS solutions. Our design and engineering experts work directly with our customers to understand the intricacies and nuances of each project, creating solutions that align with their key performance metrics.
Pierson Wireless has been hired by all major network operators to design, build, and maintain DAS solutions, and we are OEM certified by industry-leading hardware manufacturers like ADRF, Cisco, CommScope, Corning, Druid, Ericsson, JMA Wireless, Nokia, and SOLiD. Our design team is iBwave 1, 2, and 3, licensed and certified in the worldwide software standard for indoor wireless network design.
Why Choose Pierson Wireless for My DAS Upgrade?
When upgrading your DAS, trust the experts with a proven track record of success. Pierson Wireless is one of the most trusted names in cellular enhancement, with over two decades of expertise in cutting-edge DAS solutions. Our design and engineering experts work directly with our customers to understand the intricacies and nuances of each project, creating solutions that align with their key performance metrics.
Pierson Wireless has been hired by all major network operators to design, build, and maintain DAS solutions, and we are OEM certified by industry-leading hardware manufacturers like ADRF, Cisco, CommScope, Corning, Druid, Ericsson, JMA Wireless, Nokia, and SOLiD. Our design team is iBwave 1, 2, and 3, licensed and certified in the worldwide software standard for indoor wireless network design.
