Why enable 5G indoors? Because the need for better cellular coverage isn’t going away
The demand for excellent cellular coverage in buildings is a fundamental reality of the mobile era in which we live.
- 80% of mobile data is consumed indoors.
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Traditional connectivity solutions like distributed antenna systems (DAS) face limitations such as:
- Multi-operator support requiring more infrastructure
- Complexities and costs driving time-consuming legacy active DAS deployments
- Passive DAS and cell boosters are challenged to scale providing inconsistent and unreliable indoor coverage
- Most legacy solutions lack the flexibility and scalability enterprises require
To address these challenges, deploying neutral host networks with small cells neutral has emerged as a smarter alternative to DAS. Let’s look at some key factors in the DAS vs small cell debate.
Active DAS
A legacy active DAS solution consists of multiple antennas distributed throughout a building to improve wireless coverage. Additionally, for an active legacy DAS solution to support multiple carriers at once, it also requires a significant amount of extra infrastructure to support all of the operators. However, active DAS requires a lot of infrastructure in the headend room, including equipment that facilitates analog-to-digital conversion, power, and a ton of cabling. From a performance perspective, typically enterprises are seeking more than just single input single output (SISO) that comes inherently with legacy DAS systems. If an organization wants its DAS to support the added performance and coverage of Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO), additional infrastructure is necessary.
Overall, active DAS requires a significant number of cables, connectors, headend equipment, racks, uninterruptible power supplies, and radios.
Additionally, heating, cooling, and energy costs are relatively high with DAS, which drives up OpEx costs.
Small cell
A small cell neutral host solution, such as the Ericsson Radio Dot System, involves much less infrastructure compared to active legacy DAS solutions. Each baseband connects to an Indoor Radio Unit (IRU); these IRUs connect up to 8 Radio Dots. The Dots are approved by and support all three major U.S. carriers. Additionally, the Radio Dot System has multimode 4G/5G support, can scale to millions of square feet, and is already a completely digital solution leveraging either CAT6A or hybrid fiber cable.
What does all of this mean? When deployed as a neutral host network, the Radio Dot System architecture dramatically improves scale and performance, and removes much of the complexity that has come along with legacy solutions.
The small cell neutral host approach is a major boon for both CapEx and OpEx efficiency.
Key benefits of Radio Dots vs. DAS
- High performance: This system can support up to 4x4 MIMO inherently, offering potentially double or even quadruple the data rates and improved signal strength.
- Efficient, easy scalability: Radio Dots support up to four carriers, covering areas from 50K to 10M+ sq. ft., with dual-mode 4G/5G and up to 70% less power consumption than active legacy DAS.
- Optimized architecture and faster deployment: A fully digital solution with no need for analog-to-digital conversions reduces infrastructure requirements, which expedites deployments.
- Inherent, advanced capabilities: Features such as indoor precise positioning, RedCap, carrier aggregation, network slicing, and private 5G can be activated without the need for future hardware upgrades.
Why choose Ericsson’s Radio Dot System for neutral host?
Seamless multi-operator support is important for a wide range of organizations and places, ranging from public-facing office buildings, event venues, hospitals, and campus buildings to industrial environments such as manufacturing and warehouse facilities. Ericsson’s Radio Dot System serves as a smarter alternative to DAS that offers more scalability and performance, but with less deployment complexity and infrastructure.
