Law firm gains dual-carrier in-building cell coverage

Wireless in the Enterprise This newsletter is sponsored by Aerohive Networks New (and Affordable) Approach to WLAN Aerohive Networks (Best Startup, Interop 2007) has introduced Cooperative Control WLAN Architecture that provides all of the benefits of a controller-based architecture, but is easier to deploy and expand, lower cost, more reliable, more scalable, more ubiquitously deployable, higher performing and more suitable for voice-over-wireless LAN than today's controller-based architectures. Network World's Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter, 07/23/07 Law firm gains dual-carrier in-building cell coverage By Joanie Wexler In-building cellular coverage is notoriously spotty or non-existent. And underground areas stand nary a snowball’s chance in Hades of picking up a cell signal — at least, not without a little technical help. Get Up to Speed on the Latest in WLANs Easily stay on top of the latest developments and issues in WLAN technology, standards, security, telephony, management and more with Network World's latest Executive Guide, "Keeping Up With the Wireless Whirlwind." Click here to download! International law firm K&L Gates was keen to this situation when it planned construction of a new building in Washington, D.C., for relocating its employees. Because of a 13-storey building height limit in the U.S. capital, the company built three underground floors that housed support staff and parking facilities, explains Rodney Carson, the firm’s local director of administration. K&L runs a traditional Siemens PBX and desktop phones for business phone calls. However, as part of its disaster recovery emergency plan and for personal calls, Carson says, there are 500 K&L users with cellular connections. To provide internal coverage to those devices, K&L installed a distributed antenna system (DAS) from LGC Wireless, a project that was coordinated by Glasgow Group Inc. (GGI), a Great Falls, Va., telecom consultancy. DASs, also available from companies such as Inner Wireless and Mobile Access, pick up signals from a local, carrier-provided radio frequency source and distribute them, via cabling, to antennas strategically positioned throughout the company for the best coverage. LGC’s system, an “active” system, not only repeats signals but also boosts them along the way over shielded twisted-pair wiring. K&L has two populations of cellular service users, each using different carriers. “So the DAS configuration had to be able to support feeds from two operators,” explains Richard Glasgow, president of GGI. The network carriers themselves provide small base stations, often called picocells, as the RF source. K&L purchased both the DAS and the carrier picocells. About 250 K&L attorneys and company managers carry Research In Motion BlackBerry 7290 voice/data devices that operate on T-Mobile service. T-Mobile provides a T-1 link from its central office to a local picocell, which connects to the DAS. Another 250 users have their own cell phones for personal use, most on the Verizon Wireless network. Verizon provides an air interface from a local picocell to the DAS. Once some post-installation antenna-location tweaking improved coverage on a couple of floors, Carson says internal cell use has been “smooth.” The most difficult aspect of the project? Carrier cooperation. More on this issue next time.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future article topics. Reach her at joanie@jwexler.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Aerohive Networks New (and Affordable) Approach to WLAN Aerohive Networks (Best Startup, Interop 2007) has introduced Cooperative Control WLAN Architecture that provides all of the benefits of a controller-based architecture, but is easier to deploy and expand, lower cost, more reliable, more scalable, more ubiquitously deployable, higher performing and more suitable for voice-over-wireless LAN than today's controller-based architectures. ARCHIVE Archive of the Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007