Page 31 - RC2020-EDGEMagazine_SummerEdition

• Building Material Impediments: Raw materials depending on the size of the venue. A passive DAS
from the building itself—such as metal roofs, based on a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) or repeater
Low-E windows, reinforced concrete walls, and is less expensive than an active DAS, and typically
layers of interior or steel walls—can prevent the solutions are simpler, with less gear. However,
cellular signals outside from penetrating into it can be quite difficult to deliver consistent cellular
and throughout a building. reception if external network conditions are not
ideal, or if the building is large (greater than 30,000
• Underground Levels: Sub-ground level floors, square feet) or user density is high.
where parking garages as well as maintenance
and administrative offices are often housed, An Active DAS hybrid combines the digital
have poor cell phone reception because cellular distribution performance benefits of active DAS, at
signals cannot penetrate through rock, dirt, and the price points of passive DAS.
thick cement walls.
Active DAS hybrid: scalable, new,
• Population Densification: Sometimes there are advanced technology
just too many people simultaneously talking In 2019, Nextivity introduced the latest award win-
or streaming content on their phones or other ning 5G Ready Cel-Fi QUATRA active DAS hybrid.
cellular devices, and there simply is not enough This disruptive technology improves cellular
bandwidth available on the cellular network to reception for all major carriers inside commercial
handle them all. buildings. It is a hybrid of two strong and proven
technologies: traditional active DAS systems and
Commercial real estate owners in urban carrier-grade smart signal boosters.
environments have all experienced these issues
in one form or another, but many are not familiar Using an active DAS hybrid, even buildings in the
with the newest technologies available to solve the 500,000 square feet range can ensure good cellu-
problem in their buildings—within a viable budget. lar reception throughout for a fraction of the cost
of active DAS solutions—and in a matter of weeks.
All technology is not equal System integrators who have relied on active DAS
There are three basic categories of Distributed solutions in the past now realize that it is possible
Antenna Systems (DAS) that can be used to improve to achieve the necessary level of cellular coverage
cellular reception in commercial buildings ranging inside urban buildings more quickly and cost effec-
from 30,000 to 500,000 square feet. These categories tively than traditional systems, thus enabling them
are analog passive DAS, active DAS, and active DAS to help commercial real estate owners achieve their
hybrid, and each has important differentiators when business goals sooner than ever before.
determining the best fit for a venue.
“Cel-Fi QUATRA is one of our leading solutions
While an active DAS is appropriate for very large for small to medium size clients in venues under
venues (i.e., those that are a million square feet 500,000 square feet, and it’s been very success-
and larger), it is the most costly (per square foot) ful,” says Gary Greening, VP Operations at Pacific
approach for buildings under 500,000 square feet. Services, a San Clemente-based wireless system
It can also take as long as 18 months or longer to integrator for major carriers since 1985. “We have
install the equipment and negotiate the agreements been able to install QUATRA for 50 to 60 percent less
needed with each carrier to connect the active DAS than the cost of other proposals our clients receive.”
to their networks. There are even situations where
the carrier simply opts not to provide a source signal For examples on how Cel-Fi QUATRA solves indoor
for technical or business reasons, which can create cellular reception problems in urban buildings, down-
significant challenges at the site. load these case studies: https://cel-fi.com/cre12/

Both passive DAS and active DAS hybrid systems For more information, contact hello@cel-fi.com or
can be installed rapidly, sometimes in just days visit www.cel-fi-com

SPONSORED CONTENT 29