The DAS (DIstributed Antenna System), market has changed in a rapid fashion..to the next generation! There is a new game in town, SOLiD.

TriPower is introducing the first Public Safety Neutral Host Fiber DAS system. This will allow all of the carriers as well as public safety frequencies to co-exist on a single RF distribution system. The product will be NEMA 4 compliant and meet new NFPA rules for in-building signal distribution equipment. This system will cover 150 MHz, the federal 406 band, 450-512 MHz, 700 MHz, as well as 800 MHz cellular/SMR, 1900 MHz PCS and 1700/2100 MHz AWS.

What sets this apart from all the traditional in-building DAS providers of technology and why this could be very disruptive to the in-building DAS market?

Engineering Design – SOLiD Technologies out of South Korea has the experience of delivering over 55,000 units world-wide and has specifically tailored a solution for North America.

Lower CAPEX – SOLiD provides a complete portfolio of solutions for any environment in a cost-effective manner. CAT 5 UTP solutions where appropriate, as well as the ability to use single mode and mult-mode fiber. Many times single mode, simply may not be available, but having this flexibility is an obvious advantage. Some providers of DAS remote units require a pair of fiber for each service. (Note fiber is much more cost effective and meets better the RF (link budget), on large implementations versus a total passive design. As in healthcare environments that desire a multi-carrier environments, some active based designs require up to 7 pairs of fiber vertical throughout a building environment.  This is if you desire to support all the carriers, (one strand uplink and downlink for each carrier). Typically this is the model for healthcare, neutral type of hosting environment. SOLiD only requires 1 strand of fiber (for uplink and downlink). Higher total composite power up to 1 Watt, means a potential reduction of remote units, (not in every IDF). WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) over single mode fiber up to 20 Km, allow the linking of large campus environments.

Lower OPEX – The product fully supports pending 700 MHz and AWS. Lower power requirements means less power and cooling requirements. Small form factor as shown reduces space requirements in the MDF and IDF. The modularity of the remote units allow for complete immediate public safety requirements to comply with ordinance requirements, while providing a total cellular and PCS infrastructure supporting build-out if desired.

NEMA 4 rated – This is the first DAS that I know of that supports a waterproof and dustproof environment. Having this is a valid check off for any public safety and/or healthcare implementation.