wi-fi versus das: which in-building solution makes the ...noc.ucsc.edu/docs/wi-fi/wi-fi vs...

© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.

[email protected] DiLallo

[email protected] Shish

Wi-Fi versus DAS: Which

In-Building Solution Makes

the Most Sense in the Long

Term?

Staying Connected Webinar – February 17, 2015

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved. 2

Current Wireless

Environment

Current Wireless Environment

US wireless penetration now exceeds 104%,

per CTIA

Data usage continues to grow exponentially

80% of mobile data usage is indoors

In-building connectivity is a need

• Growth of mobile enterprise and BYOD

• Many employees carry more than 1 mobile device,

sometimes several (personal + business)

• Desk phones are going the way of home landlines

3© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.

Current Wireless Environment

Many companies have two wireless in-building solutions

• Wi-Fi networks (for intra-office networking and Internet access)

• Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) to enhance and propagate Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) signals

Historically, Wi-Fi and DAS have not been substitutable for each other

• …but that is changing


Economic Models

Vastly different for Wi-Fi and DAS

Wi-Fi funding usually comes in one flavor• Customer generally pays for infrastructure and

provides connectivity (e.g. over existing wireline

network)

• Except where customer allows carrier (or an

integrator) to install public Wi-Fi hotspots in a high-

traffic are


Economic Models

DAS funding can come in many flavors

• 100% customer-funded

• 100% carrier-funded

• Hybrid funding (mix of the above)

• Third-party integrator (can be mix of the above)

Potential for revenue sharing


A New Wrinkle

Wireless voice services are moving to IP

• A growing number of devices and carriers

support Voice over LTE (VoLTE)

• Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi/VoFi) exists, but is

not ubiquitous in the US

AT&T and VZW plan to start VoWiFi in 2015

Sprint launched VoWiFi in Q1 2014

T-Mobile offers VoWiFi on 100% of its devices


Over the next 12-18 Months…

Wi-Fi will continue to evolve

VoLTE and VoWiFi will become more

commonplace

Employee dependence on mobile devices

and detachment from wired infrastructure will

increase

As these forces converge, it may no longer

be necessary to support both a DAS and a

Wi-Fi network



Benefits of Each

System

Benefits of a Wi-Fi System

No FCC license or carrier commitments required

Ubiquity

Superior uptime, reliability, security, and speed (relative to DAS)

Customer flexibility re: infrastructure, underlying ISPs and support services/vendors

Future BYOD/UC solution


Benefits of a CMRS DAS

Flexible funding models

Flexible signal sources

Better equipped to handle multiple users

than current Wi-Fi

Enhanced risk management

In short term, necessary for employee,

customer, and visitor satisfaction

Best (only) current option for mobile voice



Special

Considerations

Practical Aspects of Wi-Fi

Customer is responsible for all aspects of

the System

Vulnerable to interference from

neighboring networks, hot spots

Inherently more difficult to handle multiple

users

May need to maintain multiple wireless

networks (e.g. guest access)


Legal Aspects of Wi-Fi

Increased risk of liability/legal duties

• Service Provider

• Security Obligations

Risk of FCC enforcement re: security

E-911

Watch for ISPs collecting your users’

information; privacy policy implications


Practical Aspects of CMRS DAS

Flexible funding doesn’t mean “free”

Customer still incurs costs for voice and data

usage

Multi-carrier systems are less common

Technology may lag; rollouts can be lengthy

CMRS speed may not be able to match what

is available (or coming) for Wi-Fi


Legal Aspects of CMRS DAS

DAS will always be carrier dependent in

some fashion

Customer may still have some

responsibility for interference

E-911



Conclusions and

Recommendations

Conclusions and Recommendations

What Do You Have Now?

• Existing systems?

• Aging or new facility infrastructure?

What Do You Need?

• How do you use mobile communications?

• Are you under time/business pressure to

upgrade either your DAS or your Wi-Fi network?

• BYOD?

• Are you moving/opening a new facility?


Conclusions and Recommendations

DAS

• Will a 3rd party pay some/all of the costs?

• Is your carrier selection consistent with your

larger mobile/BYOD strategy?

Wi-Fi

• Are you moving to UC?

• Do you want to simplify your infrastructure?

• Is control over security and speed a high priority?


Questions?

Kevin DiLallo

• (202) 857-2560

Imix Shish

• (202) 857-2568


wi-fi versus das: which in-building solution makes the ...noc.ucsc.edu/docs/wi-fi/wi-fi vs...

Documents