Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS): Enhancing Cellular Network Coverage in Large Buildings

Seamless cellular network coverage isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially in today’s hyper-connected world. Employees, clients, and guests expect strong, uninterrupted connectivity, no matter where they are in the building. 

However, in many spaces—especially large buildings such as venues, stadiums, retail centers, and healthcare facilities—cellular signals may struggle to penetrate thick walls, reach underground levels, or cover expansive office floors.

Additionally, as more companies eliminate traditional desk phones, cellular calls have become the norm. This shift makes reliable cellular coverage critical, especially in “cordless” office environments where mobile phones are essential for daily operations. This is where distributed antenna systems (DAS) come in.

DAS optimizes cellular performance and reliability when traditional networks may fall short. For businesses experiencing weak signals, congestion issues, or dropped connections, a DAS assessment can pinpoint the root cause and provide a tailored solution to help keep your operations running smoothly. 

What is a Distributed Antenna System (DAS)?

A distributed antenna system (DAS) is an advanced network system dedicated to enhancing and improving cell signal coverage. Using strategically placed small antennas, DAS distributes signals that amplify and extend cellular coverage. This ensures reliable connectivity where it’s needed most, such as lower levels, enclosed offices, and other hard-to-reach areas. 

Benefits of a Strong DAS Solution

A well-designed DAS can enhance your overall business environment by improving productivity and future readiness. Aside from just fixing cellular issues, DAS can: 

• Help your employees, clients, and guests stay connected no matter where they are in the building. No more dropped calls or sluggish internet speeds. 
• Contribute to scalable cellular infrastructure by equipping your space with next-generation connectivity (ideal as more 5G and IoT devices become standard).
• Enhance regulatory compliance, safety, and security for key industries such as finance and healthcare, which require unwavering emergency communication networks and security measures. 
• Improve user experience, which is especially important for customer- and client-facing businesses. 
• Offer an effective backup and redundancy option if the power goes out. Cellular networks will still function normally, allowing people to hotspot when wireless networks are unavailable. 

Why Businesses Need a DAS Assessment

You may not realize your business needs a DAS system until inadequate cellular signal strength disrupts your day-to-day operations. This is especially true if your business has recently moved to a new location. 

When leasing a new office space, Teladata recommends testing all three major carriers—Verizon AT&T, and Sprint/T-Mobile—to determine cellular strength and help you better understand if you need to install a DAS. 

However, this surface-level test method may not accurately represent cellular coverage due to limitations in data points, device and network variability, signal fluctuations, building materials, and capacity considerations. This is why we recommend a comprehensive DAS assessment. 

Our DAS Assessment Process

At Teladata, our team has decades of experience in workplace technology solutions and specializes in DAS assessments, design, and deployment. We take a strategic approach to improving cellular infrastructure, ensuring your business stays connected without interruptions. 

1. Analyze Current Carrier Coverage – Assess existing cellular performance and identify dead zones.
2. Identify Priorities – Evaluate current needs and regulatory requirements. 
3. Design a Custom DAS Solution – Develop a tailored DAS solution to enhance coverage, performance, and long-term dependability. 
4. Seamless Deployment and Support – We oversee the entire DAS installation process, providing support to keep your system optimized and the project on track. 

Improve Operations with DAS

Investing in a distributed antenna system (DAS) begins with a professional DAS assessment. This is designed to evaluate your building’s cellular coverage and identify areas with weak signal strength, dropped calls, or poor data performance. 

Unlike a wireless survey, which focuses on mapping Wi-Fi performance, a DAS assessment zeroes in on cellular connectivity issues. When elevating your building’s overall connectivity, these two assessments are ideally performed together to provide a comprehensive view of where improvements are needed. 

Let’s work together to eliminate any connectivity challenges you may have and build a smarter workplace that helps your business stay ahead of the game. Contact us today to schedule a call with the trusted Teladata team.