@ UTF: DAS networks continue to gain traction

HERSHEY, Pa.—Distributed antenna systems (DAS) are becoming an integral part of the cellular network as 70% to 80% of network traffic takes place indoors, said Keith Kaczmarek of InSite Wireless.
Wireless networks are demanding more sectors for frequency re-use as people start to send texts, video and photos at public events, rather than call people while at those events, Kaczmarek said during a session at the Pennsylvania Wireless Association-sponsored Utility Telecom Forum here in Hershey.
A venue like the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco has a capacity to hold about 30,000 people and requires 11 cell sectors to handle indoor coverage, Kaczmarek said. In fact, public venues like stadiums and arenas are getting a lot of attention from wireless carriers, tower companies and DAS providers. AT&T Mobility started a new group specifically focused on DAS deployments, several panelists noted. While the operator is competing against neutral third-party hosts, “it’s a big pie,” Kaczmarek said. If a company can get one or two operators on a DAS network, they should break even and start to make money. Three carriers on one network enables a potential revenue share with the venue provider, said Ray Hild, with MobileAccess, which makes in-building products.
Planning needs to be done at the beginning of the process, which usually take several months to complete. “It’s not a week and it’s not a year,” Kaczmarek said. However, DAS deployments are generally shorter than macrocellular tower deployments because the siting process is easier.
DAS deployments need to be constructed in a way that makes sense for carriers involved and the venue operator, Hild noted. Companies have to accommodate all of the frequencies and all of the technology protocols to make a DAS network successful. Usually venue owners only want to deal with one DAS system on their property so the various operators work together even though they compete with each other.
Going forward, panelists said they expect more DAS deployments as people continue to adopt smart phones and tablets, continually asking the network to perform better.