Distributed antennas boost in-building coverage

UK start-up Zinwave has announced the launch of its first product supporting its unified wireless infrastructure vision. Using groundbreaking, unique technology, the Zinwave Distributed Antenna System (DAS) facilitates high-quality broadband coverage in order to cost-effectively integrate, unify and simplify how cellular and wireless coverage is provided within buildings. Increasing adoption of structured and ad-hoc wireless communications technologies inside buildings has resulted in a myriad of overlapping cellular and wireless systems.

This scenario is creating an infrastructure and management crisis within campuses, offices and public in-building environments, leading to increasingly complex coverage and interaction problems for enterprises and facilities owners alike.

Mike Baker, CEO of Zinwave, explains: 'Exploiting the full capability of wireless devices requires seamless cellular and wireless coverage'.

'However, managing and maintaining the necessary equipment and relationships with multiple operators is often a highly complex, resource intensive process'.

Comprising a simple two-stage design, the Zinwave DAS converges multiple operator signals into one centrally managed hub, and remotely attached antenna units are connected using either multimode (MMF) or single-mode fibre (SMF) optic links.

Zinwave's unique technology enables it to extend the useable bandwidth of these optical fibres to facilitate high-quality broadband in-building coverage, allowing enterprises to: unify multiple wireless technologies, including GSM, 3G and WLAN, using existing in-building MMF and SMF; improve coverage, reach and capacity of cellular and Wi-Fi systems; reduce enterprise capex and opex; centralise the wireless network architecture; and future-proof the enterprise against emerging wireless standards and technologies, such as voice over WLAN.

Baker adds: 'By aggregating the technologies required to support wireless devices, the telecoms manager is able to broker deals with multiple operators, whilst guaranteeing increased coverage for users and reducing the financial expenditure required to do so'.

'Giving enterprises this control enables them to realise long-term cost-effective wireless strategies that are both future-proof and scalable'.

By employing its unique technology to extend the useable bandwidth of existing multimode fibre (MMF), which represents the vast majority of the installed base in buildings, Zinwave is the only company able to deliver a cost-effective, integrated, and manageable broadband wireless infrastructure solution.