5G is probably in the forefront of your mind if you’re thinking about deploying
a DAS or if you currently have one inside your building.
5G has a lot to offer, including more capacity, quicker speeds,
and improved support for IoT devices.
Based on some of our client engagements and the 5G DAS deployments
that our team has developed and implemented, we provide insights in this post.
Five Crucial Pointers for The location Owners Thinking About a 5G DAS
1. Most structures are best suited for mid-band 5G.
Although 5G runs over three different frequency bands, for the majority of sites, “mid-band 5G” offers the most economical mix of capacity and coverage.
2. A 5G DAS requires a 5G small cell signal source or an off-air signal source.
The quality of the signal source that feeds a DAS determines its performance. Choose the best choice for your venue in collaboration with your integrator.
3. It is possible to update some, but not all, current DAS systems to accommodate 5G.
New frequencies can be added to “modular” DAS systems; however, the manufacturer will choose the specifics.
4. Because 5G is always evolving, make plans for C-band frequencies now.
There is a continuous release of 5G upgrades and new frequencies. Make sure your system is future-proof by planning ahead.
5. Choose the appropriate systems integrator
Selecting the appropriate systems integrator is perhaps the most crucial element in a successful implementation. Regardless of whether you’re updating an old DAS or implementing a new system,reach out to our team of DAS specialists.
Future of DAS Antenna With 5G
In the 1980s, the first cellular networks were introduced. 2G was introduced in the 1990s, 3G in the 2000s, and 4G LTE in the 2010s.
2020 saw the first 5G deployments, almost as planned. Rapid progress has been made: 5G-capable cell towers are being rapidly updated globally.
Concrete, metal, and glass are examples of building materials that prevent cell tower signals from entering venues. All cellular transmissions are affected by this, but 5G is frequently implemented on higher frequencies that are considerably more attenuated than those of 3G and 4G.
This makes 5G’s indoor coverage issue more urgent than before. Thankfully, DAS is expressly designed to solve this issue.
Where the signal from outside 5G cell towers just cannot reach, a DAS provides cellular coverage. You can only make calls when you’re in an underground parking garage, deep within a hospital, or on the 50th level of a tower thanks to DAS deployments.
Get in touch with our team of DAS experts if you want to install a 5G DAS in your building or update an existing DAS to accommodate 5G. Today, our countrywide team is rolling out 5G networks all throughout the nation.
Three Types of 5G, and Why Just One Will Be Deployed In Most Venues
In the United States, 5G, also known as “New Radio” or NR, is being implemented on three distinct frequency ranges:
- Low-band 5G: Despite having little capacity, these lowest frequencies (less than 1 GHz) go the furthest and are mostly utilized to provide coverage in rural regions. AT&T and Verizon are starting to roll out low-band 5G, but T-Mobile has been the most active.
- Mid-band 5G: Used to offer coverage and capacity in urban and suburban regions, mid-band 5G operates between 1 GHz and 6 GHz. Mid-band is being used by all three carriers as they roll out 5G. N77, another name for C-Band 5G, operates in the 3.3–4.2GHz range.
- 5G millimeter wave (mmWave): These extremely fast communications (20 GHz) have a lot of capacity and speed, but their coverage is quite constrained. Verizon, which is implementing 5G most vigorously in the US, has named this kind of the technology “ultra-wideband” (UWB). However, deployments have primarily been restricted to metropolitan areas, and each cell only covers a few hundred feet.
The main 5G flavor that carriers advise for in-building DAS installs is mid-band. Although these “sub-6 GHz” frequencies have a lot of capacity, they may still pass through windows and walls.
mmWave DAS systems are also being used for extremely specific use cases or in certain very large locations, including stadiums. Deployments are usually limited to a single room or huge outdoor events due to drywall’s ability to impede mmWave signals.
For in-building DAS deployments, we highly advise concentrating on mid-band 5G frequencies for the optimal balance of cost, coverage, and performance.
Sources of 5G DAS Signals: Off-Air and Small Cells
Signal sources are an essential part of every DAS implementation, as you are aware if you have read our guide to distributed antenna systems.
For 5G DAS systems, off-air and tiny cells are the two main signal source types.
The most popular signal source for 5G distributed antenna system installations are 5G small cells, commonly referred to as gNodeBs. In essence, a gNodeB is a “cell tower in a box.” It connects back to the operator’s core network via specialized fiber or an internet connection.
A “donor” antenna, which is frequently mounted on a building’s roof, is used by an off-air signal source to receive signals from the closest tower. The quality and availability of the outside 5G cell signal determine how well off-air solutions work.
Integration of 5G and 4G LTE
Many users’ devices are outdated and only support 4G LTE, even though 5G is the newest and finest in cellular technology. Therefore, it is essential to support 4G LTE devices for the foreseeable future.
However, there are other justifications for your DAS to enable 4G LTE. Most 5G small cells on the market now operate a 5G variant known as “Non-Standalone” (NSA 5G), which builds upon an already-existing 4G LTE connection. Prior to connecting via 5G, NSA 5G small cells must have an established LTE network.
Without a 4G LTE signal, phones can connect to a 5G network thanks to standalone 5G (SA 5G) technology. Even if SA 5G is spreading, you’ll probably still need to support 4G LTE users.
Getting Ready for C-Band Will Help You Future-Proof Your 5G DAS
5G is a dynamic protocol that will be modified in a number of “releases” during the course of the decade rather than being a single static technology. In order to increase capacity and speed up 5G networks, the FCC also often grants carriers additional spectrum licenses.
In order to future-proof a DAS, one must anticipate emerging technologies and use cases. This is just another reason why it’s so important to collaborate with a system integrator who is knowledgeable about DAS, 5G, and your particular use cases.
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ’s)
1. Does 5G work indoors?
Indoor performance of 5G is comparable to that of 4G LTE. Unfortunately, though, it’s not quite that easy.
Carriers are implementing 5G on higher frequency bands where they have greater capacity in order to achieve the faster data rates that the technology promises. Windows and other building elements can more readily block those higher frequencies. As a result, 4G LTE will perform better indoors than 5G.
This problem is resolved by a 5G distributed antenna system (DAS), which distributes 5G within and guarantees coverage that is on par with or better than outside.
2. What is a 5G DAS?
5G “New Radio” signal dispersion is supported by 5G DAS. Newer frequency bands, such as T-Mobile’s n41 band and the soon-to-be n77 C-Band frequencies, are usually supported by a 5G DAS. Furthermore, some DAS devices offer MIMO at 2×2, 4×4, or even higher levels.
3. Is it possible to update a current 4G DAS to accommodate 5G?
The details of the installed equipment determine whether or not an existing 4G LTE DAS may be converted to 5G. Your current DAS can probably be updated if the 4G system is a modular DAS, the manufacturer has developed modules to support new 5G frequencies.
Sometimes replacing the system makes more sense, even if upgrading your DAS is a possibility. Installing 5G in a DAS that supports 2×2 or even 4×4 MIMO, for instance, significantly improves performance compared to earlier DAS systems.
4. What distinguishes a 5G DAS from 5G small cells?
5G small cells are independent units that produce a 5G signal; they function similarly to a “mini 5G cell tower.” They use an internet connection to connect to the operator’s network.
Although 5G may be installed in a building using 5G tiny cells, these cells usually only support one carrier at a time. A 5G DAS deployment is significantly less costly than a multi-carrier small cell system deployment.
5. Does Private 5G need a DAS, and what is it?
Cellular technologies like 4G LTE and 5G NR are used by private networks, which are set up by private organizations like utilities, government organizations, or private businesses.
Private network installations often take place in the 3.5 GHz range using the CBRS frequency. Today, 4G LTE technology is used in the majority of private networks, but newer 5G rollouts are starting to emerge, which promise reduced latencies and support for more devices.
Private 4G and 5G can also be broadcast over a distributed antenna system if one is already in place or if the location would like to provide both private networking and commercial cellular service. Private networking deployments usually take place using standalone small cells positioned throughout a building.
Chat