In-Building Wireless – A Step-by-Step Guide

6 STEPS TO DEPLOYING AN IN-BUILDING WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE

Implementing a new in-building wireless system is a large project that can be overwhelming. This document will guide you through the steps
involved in designing and implementing an in-building wireless infrastructure for both new and existing buildings, and will highlight some
common errors to avoid.

1 NEEDS 2 SITE SURVEY & 3 MOBILE 4 5 INSTALLATION, 6 SYSTEM

ASSESSMENT & FINANCING
RF SYSTEM OPERATOR INTEGRATION & MONITORING &
REQUIREMENTS OPTIONS
DESIGN COORDINATION COMMISSIONING MAINTENANCE
GATHERING

1. Needs assessment and requirements gathering

The telecommunications market is fast-changing and newly installed wireless networks can quickly become obsolete if future requirements
are not considered up front. In order to help determine what your current and future goals and requirements are, here are some things to
consider:
· Do you need coverage throughout the entire building or just in certain areas?
COMMON PITFALLS TO AVOID:
· What are the capacity requirements for dense areas?
· What are your required frequency bands, and technologies (2G, 3G, 4G or even 5G)? · Only thinking about the current
requirements
· Does your building have existing fiber and cabling infrastructure?
· Not planning for public safety
· What are your aesthetics concerns? coverage
· Do you need all mobile operators on the system, or just one? Do you anticipate
additional mobile operators will be added in the future?
· Is first responder in-building wireless coverage required to obtain an occupancy permit (for new buildings or major remodelling)?
· Does the in-building wireless system need to support wireless devices such as Wi-Fi access points or security cameras over the same
network?

Thinking about present AND future needs is recommended. This helps avoid the unpleasant situation where decision-makers have to inform
their management that their sizable investment no longer satisfies the company’s needs and requirements.

2. Site survey and RF system design

EXISTING BUILDINGS
For existing buildings, a site survey should be conducted to evaluate the signal quality of the
different mobile operators and to identify optimum installation locations for radio remote
units and antennas. This will require access to building floor plans and the use of site survey
tools that can test for signal quality and RF interference.

Once the site survey is completed, an iBwave® certified designer will use the floor plan,
together with the site survey data, to generate a coverage or heat map based on the iBwave
software’s predictions of RF propagation within performance parameters and criteria that
have been predefined in line with your specific situation or commercial wireless operator
requirements. Factors such as the structural layout of the building, building codes, aesthetics
of the building and security issues will also be incorporated into the final design. Based on the
final design, the designer will then create a Bill of Materials (BOM) – a comprehensive list of all
the components required for the recommended in-building wireless infrastructure.

NEW BUILDINGS
A provisional RF design is recommended for buildings that are still under construction. LEED glass is often used in new-builds to improve a
building’s energy efficiency but the reflective coating can also block out cellular signals. It is not uncommon that, during construction, the
construction crew can freely use their mobile phones without any challenges, but once the framing, walls and windows are installed, the
wireless signal is no longer available.

©2017 Dali Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved.

To avoid this situation, the building construction and design team should prepare a
preliminary RF design to be included with the initial building plans. A provisional RF design
can provide a best estimation of RF penetration based on the structure, materials and floor
plan of the building. The cellular infrastructure cabling design can also be included with other
low voltage schematics that are intended for computer or Wi-Fi networks and High Speed
Internet Access (HSIA).

Even if there is no immediate plan to install in-building cellular infrastructure, it’s still ideal to
include the cable and fiber runs in the initial building plans in case a cellular wireless
infrastructure is needed in the future. This will ensure that the costs and headache of having
to retrofit later on are avoided. Retrofitting could require expensive cutting into walls or
ceilings to run the cables. Once a venue is up and running, the cost of pulling cables increases even more due its impact on business
operations.

COMMON PITFALL TO AVOID: The advantage of including the cabling and fiber in the initial building plan is that in-building
wireless infrastructure can also be added on an incremental basis. Remote radio units can be
· Not including a provisional RF added on floors where cellular coverage is needed, or in certain problematic areas – for
design for buildings under example, meeting rooms and conference centers. Finally, if the cellular infrastructure is
construction included in the initial planning phase, the cost of that infrastructure can be rolled into the total
cost of the building, making budgeting simpler.

3. Mobile operator coordination

Obtaining mobile operator participation and approval to rebroadcast their licensed spectrum is required for in-building wireless
deployments. Mobile operators have invested billions of dollars building out their networks to give their users the best mobile experience
possible. If the aim of the in-building wireless system is to improve users’ wireless experience, then you will need access to licensed
frequencies from the mobile operators.

According to the HTNG Converged Infrastructure Survey in 2010, “a major obstacle to cellular technology adaptation is carrier
cooperation”. Obtaining permission for RF retransmission from operators involves numerous steps, from business case development and RF
retransmission agreement coordination, to the integration and commissioning of the RF source. Enterprises often don’t have available
resources to manage the process or know where to start. Working with an experienced third party that can act as the liaison between the
mobile operators and the enterprise, can help keep the process moving as quickly and smoothly as possible. Mobile operators understand
this concern as well and are working to make this process as painless as possible.

We always recommend that coordination with mobile operators should start very early in the in-building wireless implementation process.
This will help the enterprise to fully understand the scope and the cost of the in-building wireless implementation, and ensure that the
in-building wireless system deployed does not conflict with the standards and processes of the operators’ networks. Based on the mobile
operators’ level of participation, a finalized Bill of Material (BOM) is generated which includes the equipment, passive components,
installation cost, and optimization cost. This finalized BOM will give the enterprise a better understanding of the entire cost of the
in-building wireless network, from equipment, to installation and optimization.

4. Financing options
Financing options are available to accommodate a wide range of needs for implementing in-building wireless solutions within existing
buildings. While some enterprises may find an outright purchase or capital expenditure most suitable, for many enterprises, equipment
leasing presents a much more accessible approach.

With leasing, a financial services company owns and finances the equipment, and payments are made by the enterprise to the financial
services company, typically on a monthly basis. Leasing shifts the in-building wireless system from being considered a capital expenditure
(CAPEX) to an operational expenditure (OPEX). From an accounting standpoint, CAPEX shows up on the balance sheet and is depreciated
over the life of the asset. OPEX is registered in the profit and loss account as an ongoing expense.

Key benefits of taking an OPEX approach:

IMPROVED CASH FLOW MANAGEMENT
Replacing substantial upfront payments with the smaller regular payments of a lease provides for even, predictable expenses simplifying
cash-flow management. Frequently, lease payments are also fully tax deductible.

TIMING FLEXIBILITY
CAPEX is usually budgeted once per year and enterprises may have to wait for the next budget cycle to implement a system. As lease
payments recur monthly, companies may be more flexible with the timing of their lease-based purchase. This may, in some cases, even
make the purchase more favorable to the executive team as the initiative promises not to tie up precious capital.

REVENUE ALIGNMENT
Treating in-building wireless as an operating expense positions it as an essential cost of doing business. That is, with in-building wireless
as an operating expense, it appears alongside other costs of sales and aligns with the recognition of related revenues such as an increase
in tenancy rate or customer satisfaction.

©2017 Dali Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved.

With that said, no two businesses are alike. We recommend that each organization consider their financial situation and determine a
payment method that best aligns with their capital utilization model and business requirements.

5. System installation, integration and commissioning

Based on the RF design and the Bill of Materials (BOM), additional documentations will be developed to clearly lay out the system
installation, integration and commissioning information. These may include a fiber plan, rack layout plan, clock distribution plan, network
design plan and gain lineup.

With a full set of documents in hand, the typical process for installing, integrating and commissioning the in-building wireless system goes as
follows:
1. Install fiber and cable, as per the site survey
and RF system design.
2. Install passive components/equipment.
3. Verify that all fiber, cable and passive components are
operating correctly and optimally.
4. Install the Distributed Antenna System (host and remotes).
5. Verify that the system is operating as per design parameters .
6. Verify that the system meets the requirements of each mobile
operators and that the system has no negative impact on
operator macro networks.
7. Document measurements based on a walk through may be
required.
8. Finalize mobile operator re-transmission agreements. These
agreements provide the right to redistribute or retransmit
the mobile operators’ RF signals within the building. They
also provide reassurance to the mobile operators that the
new network is designed and operating correctly and should
not cause any issues for their users.

Once the above steps are successfully completed, the in-building

wireless solution is operational and users will have an optimal mobile
experience throughout the building.

6. System monitoring and maintenance

Getting from purchase decision to operation is just the beginning. System monitoring and maintenance are important to ensuring that your
system is operating optimally at all times. These should include:
· Monitoring
· Remote access troubleshooting
· On-site replacement parts and repairs
· Preventive maintenance

Most enterprises will negotiate a service agreement with a 3rd party. The in-building wireless system is then connected to the Network
Operating Center (NOC) of the 3rd party so they can monitor the system remotely. If issues are identified, their support team can remotely
access the system to assess the alarm and fault level. If the issue can’t be fixed remotely, they will usually dispatch a technician to fix the issue
on site.

We strongly recommend having an in-building wireless system monitoring and maintenance plan in place. This will ensure that your wireless
service is operating optimally and is uninterrupted while allowing you to focus on your own area of expertise, running your business.

Conclusion
The demand for continuous, uninterrupted cellular service is no longer a nice to have, it’s a must have for the “always-on” lifestyle of mobile
users. Today, in-building wireless systems are an essential part of many businesses – be it to improve productivity or customer and staff
satisfaction.

We understand that implementing a new technology infrastructure such as an in-building wireless system can be overwhelming as there are
so many variables to consider. Use this article as a guide for understanding the scope of your in-building wireless solution project. Then you
can decide if you are ready to manage the deployment in-house, entrust the project to several parties that specialize in each area, or
opt for the entire project to be handled by one firm – a turnkey solution.
For more information or guidance, please contact Dali Wireless at the address below.

Dali Wireless, Inc. Dali Wireless (Canada), Inc. Dali Wireless (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd Web: www.daliwireless.com
535 Middlefield Road, Suite 280 8618 Commerce Court Suite 3911, 39/F., Jardine House, Toll Free: 1-855-250-5082
Menlo Park, CA, 94025 USA Burnaby, BC, V5A 4N6 Canada 1 Connaught Place Central, Hong Kong International: +1-604-420-7760
Email: [email protected]