wi-fi versus das: which in-building solution makes the ...noc.ucsc.edu/docs/wi-fi/wi-fi vs...
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© 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
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
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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
5© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
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
6© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
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
7© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
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
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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
10© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
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
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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)
13© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
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
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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
15© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
Legal Aspects of CMRS DAS
DAS will always be carrier dependent in
some fashion
Customer may still have some
responsibility for interference
E-911
16© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved. 17
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?
18© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.
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?
19© 2015 Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP. All rights reserved.