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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Distributed Antennae System (DAS)

Improve wireless coverage inside and outside buildings on campus, addressing carrier choices and challenges to ensure optimal connectivity and minimal interference. Explore innovative solutions to enhance campus-wide connectivity, balancing technology and aesthetics.

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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Distributed Antennae System (DAS)

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  1. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Distributed Antennae System (DAS)

  2. Coverage on Campus • Goal – to provide coverage both outside and inside buildings throughout campus where the coverage is poor or non-existent • Individual preference regarding carrier choice – Bring your own Carrier (BYOC) • Coverage by the four main carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile)

  3. Carriers • Sprint – has a site on upper campus • T-Mobile – has a site on lower campus • Verizon – “Cellular on Wheels (COW)” temporary location on campus due to poor coverage in the hospital • AT&T – no site on campus

  4. Solutions • Cell Phone Tower Companies • Tower located on campus to co-locate all four carriers • In-building Solution Companies • In-building solution utilizing the same infrastructure for Wi-Fi, cellular, radio, baby monitor and nurse call • High cost solutions

  5. In-building solutions • Cell Phone Repeaters • Low cost multi-frequency (may be illegal) • Cost prohibitive • Campus wide in-building cellular coverage RFP

  6. Challenges • Inconsistent wireless coverage both inside and outside of campus facilities • No budget for improving cellular wireless coverage • "But according to the CTIA-Wireless Association, a trade group that represents such companies as Verizon Wireless and AT&T whose cell towers dot ridges and hills, the amplifiers have the unintended consequence of interfering with tower signals. The association contends the interference results in its customers losing service and experiencing dropped calls." • New construction – new “green” buildings hurting cell phone coverage

  7. New Challenges • Low E Glass (LEED) windows affecting cellular signal strength • In-building coverage more critical with the higher frequencies 3G/4G • Public Safety and First Responders mandates for in-building coverage – does the city have an ordinance?

  8. Peer Institutions • UC Santa Cruz • "The NextG DAS sites we installed increased coverage and filled dead zones in a difficult area, without hazardous emissions or large capital costs."Ed Titus, UCSC Telecommunications Manager

  9. Peer Institutions • Notre Dame • "Our partnership with NextG Networks provides Notre Dame students, faculty, staff, visitors and sports fans with superior wireless voice and data service from participating operators. NextG's cutting-edge system enables Notre Dame to ensure campus-wide wireless coverage and capacity without the need for landline phones, traditional cell towers, or major construction by using state-of-the-art technology that blends discretely into the Notre Dame campus."Dewitt Latimer, Deputy CIO, Chief Technology Officer, Assistant Vice President and Assistant Provost, University of Notre Dame

  10. Peer Institutions • San Diego State • "NextG's DAS solution compliments the existing macro cell sites at SDSU. Carriers with multiple sites still have coverage/capacity holes in key areas. NextG fills those holes through minimal additional space upgrades in current sites and also brings regional carriers to the campus that otherwise could not afford to install their own multiple macro sites. The DAS technology provides larger coverage with less capital investment for carriers."Riny LedgerwoodDirector Communications and Computing ServicesSan Diego State University

  11. Technology Benefits • Optimal wireless coverage • Visually unobtrusive equipment • Significantly lower RF emissions • Easy to maintain and upgrade • New high-speed technology • Accommodates multiple wireless operator infrastructure • Business Benefits • No cost to your university • Minimal management costs with single point-of-contact

  12. NextG DAS-Network Benefits for campus • No cost for enhancement of licensed wireless services • Revenue generator/offset costs for campus wireless initiatives • Plug & play architecture • Option to and/or compliments traditional cell sites • Visually low-impact hardware • CWDM platform equals future-proof network • No major construction • Supports all wireless services, technologies, applications & operators • Easy to maintain & upgrade –centralized equipment hub

  13. NextG Networks and Carriers • AT&T first to sign contract • Verizon second to sign contract • Sprint is yet to sign • T-Mobile is yet to sign

  14. Campus Approval Package • Typical NextG Deployment Services • Fiber Planning and Permitting • •Backbone fiber audit & OTDR testing • •College building Communications closet layout • •Fiber Laterals • RF Transport and Monitoring Services • •RF Transport • •Monitor Nodes and Hub equipment

  15. Construction Project • Logistics • •NextG will order and receive all optical equipment • •NextG will stage, integrate, and test all equipment • •NextG will ship tested equipment to the University when ready for construction. • Construction • •Node Construction • •Fiber Network & Laterals Construction • •Network monitoring system • •Equipment Set-Up, Test, & Systems Integration • •Optical Hub Installation & Connection to Fiber Backbone • •Commissioning and Verification

  16. AT&T Project - University of Utah Campus Aerial

  17. AT&T Project • Started with 5 Nodes • Now 8 outdoor antennae’s • Determined not sufficient in-building coverage • Increased by 8 in-building solutions • Collecting next phase building list Node 1 Node 2 Node 4 Node 3 Node 5 Node 6 Node 7 Node 8

  18. Interference Issues • After installing the outdoor nodes – some nodes could not be turned up right away • Investigate source(s) of interference • Buildings with “self installed” multi-frequency repeaters – • the amplifiers had the unintended consequence of interfering with the new AT&T DAS signals. AT&T contended that the interference resulted in our customers losing service and experiencing dropped calls. • In most cases repeaters were turned off

  19. Campus Design and Construction Approval Required • Beginning of 2011 – “New Campus Building Code Compliance” Rules • Past project approvals not grandfathered • AT&T project meet new code compliance • Required not to penetrate roof membrane for antenna mounts • Roof top access certificate required • Antennae’s not located 10ft from the edge of the roof or mounted on building parapet required guard rails to be installed • Corrections to be made before any additional AT&T antennae’s could be installed in addition to starting the Verizon installation • Building Inspected and committee approved

  20. University Approval Summary • Physical Planning & Construction • Campus Architect • Environmental Assessment Group (EAG) • Design & Facility Advisory Committee • Individual College Deans • Physical Plant Services 4) Environmental Health & Safety 5) Communications and Technology 6) Campus Fire Marshall 7) Community (via public forum)

  21. Verizon Project - University of Utah Campus Aerial

  22. Verizon • Replace the existing Cellular on Wheels (COW) with 4 antennae’s

  23. Verizon • Start with 4 antennae’s • Node 1 - Clinical Neuroscience #550 • Node 2 – Moran Eye Center #523 • Node 3 – Social & Behavioral Science #025 • Node 4 – ASB #082 Node 1 Node 2 Node 4 Node3

  24. Verizon Project • COW turned down after the installation of the new 4 nodes • Determined 4 nodes did not provide adequate coverage • Hospital • Engineering Building • Turned off node closet to COW • COW was turned back up • Looking into installation in-building antennae’s to compensate for lost coverage when the COW is turned down.

  25. Verizon Project Issues • In-building “self-installed” repeater • Sprint users experienced coverage issues • Sprint users phones roamed to the stronger Verizon network • Sprint installed fem-to-cells to address coverage issue as a quick fix

  26. Other Carrier Status • Sprint – resistant to DAS solution • T- Mobile – resistant to DAS solution (would like to pursue new contract with longer term and work with NextG on an in-building solution starting with the hospital).

  27. Lessons Learned • Investigate where repeaters have been installed • If the outdoor solution RF signal does not penetrate deep enough inside the buildings to provide adequate coverage, be prepared with an in-door solution • In the event the carriers are not interested in covering the buildings that your campus requires, secure funding for an in-building solution that can scale and support multiple carriers as necessary

  28. Questions • Contact information: • SyndiHaywood • University Of Utah • Associate Director • UIT Voice Systems and Business Administration • 585 Komas Drive, Suite 202 • Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 • 801-581-5899 office • Syndi.Haywood@utah.edu • www.it.utah.edu

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