Improve cellular coverage
In-Building Coverage Solutions (IBC)
Coverage & Capacity Solution for Business
In today’s age, it is an expectation that you can use your phone in just about any urban environment. Coupled with OH&S and emergency considerations, extensive and reliable phone communications can increase your business’ productivity and confidence. Conversely, poor or non-existent phone coverage can lead to poor performance indicators and frustration amongst personnel, tenants and the public etc.
In-Building Coverage (IBC)
IBC (In-Building Coverage) refers to the entire in-building coverage environment and may include elements such as repeater and base station (RBS/BTS) equipment.
DAS refers to the Distributed Antenna System – a component of an IBC solution that will interface a repeater or radio base station. A DAS does not generate a signal, it requires input from active equipment (a signal source).
IBC equipment and infrastructure are categorised as either active, passive or hybrid. Active equipment produces a signal and passive equipment is driven by the existing signal that was produced.
Pictured, above: an example of a IBC Cellular DAS system.
DAS Types
Passive – where the repeater / BTS signal is distributed to the antenna system via a passive network of coaxial cables, splitters and couplers.
Active – where the repeater / BTS signal is connected to a central hub or interface unit, which then feeds a network of either optical fibre cables, or dedicated structured cabling. Each of these cables in turn connects to an active RF head and antenna.
Hybrid – being a combination of Passive and Active Elements.
Signal Sources (Off-Air)
The most common signal source for a DAS and often the most economical is an off-air repeater (such as a Cel-fi G41 or Cel-fi Quatra). In simple terms, a signal is received from a carrier source via external donor antennas, amplified and redistributed through a DAS system. The signal is amplified with a repeater that has been authorised for use by the respective telecommunications carrier.
Off-air repeater solutions are best suited to coverage requirements as opposed to capacity (i.e. you need cellular coverage to be available throughout the DAS environment and not high capacity / high bandwidth). The signal is borrowed from the existing carrier source, amplified, and simply “extended” throughout the DAS environment.
Signal Sources (RBS/BTS)
Radio Base Station / Base Transceiver Station
This equipment provides a direct connection from the telecommunication carrier(s) (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone), providing high-capacity and critical communications, or, to establish an entirely new site where there is no existing coverage. This active equipment must interface a DAS that meets MCF 2018 specifications (Multi Carrier Forum 2018) and approval of the lead-carrier that has been invited to join the DAS. Proper planning, testing and consultation must be carried out prior to the installation of any DAS before a carrier will agree to connect their BTS equipment.
Candidates that might require a carrier DAS include (but not limited to): corporate offices and residential buildings, shopping centres, stadiums, convention & exhibition centres, transport hubs, underground installations, and airports.
It is important to understand that once the clients’ DAS has been commissioned according to MCF standards – ownership of the DAS will be transferred and handed over to the lead-carrier. The client will be responsible for payment of the RBS equipment and connection to the DAS of the invited carrier(s).
The lead-carrier will become responsible for installation of the nominated RBS/BTS equipment in conjunction with other carrier(s) that have been invited. On-going operation, maintenance and associated costs will now be borne by the lead-carrier in conjunction with other carrier(s) that joined.
MCF 2018
Multi Carrier Forum Specifications
MIMO / SISO DAS Systems
“MIMO” specifically refers to multiple in, multiple out transmission – sending and receiving more than one data signal simultaneously over the same radio channel by exploiting multipath propagation – thus multiplying link capacity.
“SISO” specifically refers to single in, single out transmission – sending and receiving one data signal over one radio path.
Why Cel-Fi Quatra?
- Improve your existing coverage
- Carrier-approved and unconditionally network safe
- Extend your new coverage within your property / premises
- Up to 100 dB Active DAS Hybrid (1000x Stronger)
- Maximize engagement of your devices that operate via voice / data
- Does not interfere with Australian mobile carrier networks – 100% safe and approved by ACMA (Australian Communications & Media Authority)
- Multi-user capability