Quarterly Connection March 2024

Connection

The perceived need for speed and the debate over 4G v 5G

Table of Contents

03

The 5G FOMO The reality of 5G implementation is a nuanced perspective.

The fear of missing out should never override the harsh truth of practicality and cost.

06

Chalk Talk

09

Intenna Quarterly Newsletter

What is DAS really?

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Wireless that Works Christopher Lange President William Shouldis VP Engineering

Sales Jeff Reale Director, Enterprise Network Solutions Eric McCarthy Solutions Manager-Enterprise Sales Central and South Regions

Intenna Systems designs, builds and maintains some of the most complex in-building wireless solutions available in the enterprise and service provider segments of the industry. The Intenna DAS that you deploy now will immediately enable 4G technology while laying the foundation for future 5G services.

Click here to request a FREE budgetary design quote.

Eclipse Rattanavong Solutions Manager - Enterprise Sales West Region

Marketing Robin Lange Marketing Manager

E sales@intennasystems.com T 609.714.8268

The 5G FOMO

Imagine 5G as the summit of a mountain, enticing with promises of lightning-fast speeds and groundbreaking capabilities. However, before embarking on the climb, it's imperative to evaluate the terrain.

The reality of 5G implementation is a nuanced perspective. The fear of missing out should never override the harsh truth of practicality and cost.

Businesses don't necessarily need 5G because their requirements often revolve around reliability, security, and efficiency rather than raw speed. When a video call only requires 3Mbps, and a 4k video stream uses 20Mbps, the 100Mbps of 4G is more than fast enough for most needs. The need for 1Gbps arises only if there's a genuine 5G application demanding it.

Many business operations are adequately supported by existing 4G networks, which offer stable connectivity for tasks such as email, video conferencing, and cloud-based applications.

Additionally, the infrastructure for widespread 5G coverage is not yet fully developed or costeffective for many businesses to adopt.

Investing in a 5G network may not always provide significant enough benefits to justify the expense, especially for smaller enterprises or those operating in regions where 5G infrastructure is limited.

Thus, while 5G offers exciting possibilities for certain industries, for many businesses, the advantages may not outweigh the current costs and complexities.

The case for 4G Is 5G the hill we want to stake our claim on, or is it a hill we'd rather not die on?

Consider this: building a DAS capable of supporting C-Band 5G comes with a price tag. For tasks like calls, texts, and typical internet browsing, the robustness of 4G suffices. Its reliability ensures seamless functionality for everyday tasks.

However, the narrative shifts when considering tasks that demand the prowess of 5G, such as long-distance robotic surgery, where the low latency and high bandwidth of C-Band 5G are indispensable.

In navigating this landscape, it's crucial not to succumb to assumptions. Don't blindly embrace 5G without scrutinizing its practical implications. In a world where every dollar counts, adopting a pragmatic approach is key.

Ultimately, the decision to leap towards 5G should be a calculated one, grounded in an understanding of both its benefits and limitations.

Opting for a base DAS equipped with 4G offers a cost-effective solution that caters to the needs of the majority of clients.

It's about paying for what you need, rather than succumbing to the allure of excess.

Intenna has over twenty years of experience designing, building and maintaining some of the most complex in-building wireless solutions anywhere.

And we have developed a process for taking a project from needs assessment to engineering scope and design through installation all the way to deployment and maintenance to make it as seamless as possible.

MAIN SPEAKER

Aaron Loeb

CEO of Fauget Company

Intenna Systems LLC • sales@intennasystems.com • www.intennasystems.com • (609) 714-8268

What is DAS, really?

Many buildings and venues have less than perfect cellular coverage for a variety of reasons. Energy efficient buildings block outside signals with complicated environments like hospitals further hindering the penetration of macro cellular signals due to factors like the geometry of the building, the nature of clinical spaces (operating rooms, imaging equipment, etc.), and the population density of mobile users.

Among the options available for solving these types of connection issues, a DAS can be your best bet.

But what is DAS? A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is a network that consists of common head end electronics, fiber optic cable (and other types of cable) to distribute radio frequency (RF) signals, and antennas or access points that broadcast those signals to mobile devices. A DAS can be designed to enhance cellular services or public safety network services (e.g., two-way radios).

It can be designed for use indoors or outdoors to provide reliable cellular coverage in hotels, subways, airports, hospitals, businesses, roadway tunnels as well as wireless services for police, fire, and emergency services.

A successful DAS project requires two primary components – signal sources and the distribution network itself. The signal sources provide a direct connection to the core networks of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. They also provide input signals to the DAS head end electronics. Fiber cable, remote amplifier equipment, and antennas or access points work together to distribute all signals throughout the building over a common infrastructure.

The result? A seamless environment of robust cellular coverage and capacity (bandwidth).

OK, and? Seems simple right? Well, not so fast. There is no onesize-fits-all approach to DAS networks. Each network is custom designed to a specific set of requirements that can vary greatly from one venue to the next and from one geographic area to the next. The upfront design process is critical to the long-term success of the project.

Intenna’s vast experience combines a thorough understanding of design requirements and installation acumen to achieve stellar results, regardless of the location or complexity of the venue.

This is a free service we provide to any prospective client with our Budgetary Design. You won’t find that just anywhere.

Distributed Antenna System What Is It? Really?

A Distributed Antenna System, or DAS,

WORKS LIKE A NETWORK OF CELL TOWERS scaled down to fit inside a building

Radio Frequency (RF) Conversion ANTENNAS/ ACCESS POINTS

A DAS distributes Mobile Network Operator signals from a common RF source.

Similar to how macro cellular towers propagate signals that provide coverage to outdoor areas, the DAS antennas propagate signals throughout the venue to provide robust communication links for the services represented on the network.

IMPROVES USER EXPERIENCE increasing both speed and capacity FIBER OPTIC CABLE By converting RF to pulses of light, the DAS can transport MNO signals to remote amplifier equipment over long distances with minimal signal loss.

ALLOWS FOR GREATER AUTONOMY works with all major Mobile Network Operators MORE DEFINED COVERAGE no overlapping signals mitigating any interference Specifically DESIGNED FOR INDOOR USE better connection for venues of any size

March 2024

The 5G FOMO

Did You Know?

The reality of 5G implementation is a nuanced perspective. The fear of missing out should never override the harsh truth of practicality and cost.

Intenna will do a FREE Budgetary Design including real designs based on client specific details so you get an accurate estimate of costs before green lighting any project.

Request your free quote here

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Spotlight On

the Real Deal

Quarterly Quote

“One significant thing to keep in mind is that this 10Gbps number that’s often cited refers to the maximum total bandwidth available to all 5G devices connected to a single radio transceiver on a cellular tower.”

I just invent, then wait until man comes around to needing what I've invented.

R. Buckminster Fuller

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Coming Up...

Intenna is set to launch a comprehensive in-building DAS for the new PGA Tour broadcast studio, covering all frequency bands including C-BAND.

Anselm Mazza Project Manager

Couldn’t live without pizza.

Wishes he had the superpower of age manipulation Loves toys like radio controlled cars, trucks, planes, drones Was looking for a change and the career found me.

“I am rewarded by getting to see the direct results of my efforts and learning new skills like AutoCAD for 3D printing.”