What are indoor solutions

Investing in an indoor solution is preparing for the future

The digital revolution has brought technology into every aspect of our lives. Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, AR / VR…technologies once considered science fiction have now become reality. However, none of these innovations work without connectivity.

 

Connectivity is key to success

Our lives today revolve around technology. When a user first enters an establishment, they seek a connectivity experience that supports the technology-enhanced lifestyle to which they have become accustomed. It’s unacceptable to have no connectivity, just like it’s unacceptable to have no hot water or lights at night. On the other hand, great connectivity really improves our quality of life: the more signal bars, the higher our satisfaction.

Mobile connectivity has changed the way we live and work. When you add that we spend 90% of our lives and consume 80% of our data in indoor environments, it naturally follows that we need this essential service indoors more than anywhere else. Unfortunately, the wireless carriers cannot expand cellular networks to every individual building, since they have finite capital budgets and many competing coverage priorities. This means that owners and landlords—not the mobile operators—are now tasked with keeping users connected on their premises. Survey after survey shows that users agree: connectivity is the venue owner’s responsibility.

The daily impact of connectivity

Imagine…

  • A broker who tours a prospective tenant around a brand-new residential tower and pulls out her iPad to demonstrate all of the unique features of the building.
  • A shopper at a mall calls her husband over video to show him a dress she saw in a store window. She wants to know whether he thinks it would work for an event they need to attend that night.
  • A fan watches his favorite team at a stadium. During halftime, he decides to buy some souvenirs for his family. He wants to make his payment via his cell phone, as he usually doesn’t bring his wallet to the stadium.
  • A hospital patient needs an emergency procedure and must inform family members so they can make arrangements.
  • A hotel guest wants to share his beautiful view from the rooftop pool on Instagram, and there is no Wi-Fi coverage in the area.

All of the above examples are real, and they are likely happening right now all over the world. Now, imagine two scenarios: one in which everyone can easily connect to the mobile data network and get a great signal and the other in which there is no strong signal, limiting all connectivity. In this second scenario, a customer or potential customer will not only have a negative experience, but sales may be lost, impacting your business.

The challenge of indoor connectivity

When it comes to providing a desired connectivity experience, indoor environments pose unique challenges. Walls block antenna signals. High user density slows data flows. In these circumstances, a normal macro coverage solution cannot handle the additional demand for data.

As a result, buildings need complementary indoor systems so that users can remain connected. The key is to invest in a solution that meets the needs of today and anticipates the use cases of tomorrow.

To address this problem, telecom engineers have developed an internal and dedicated signal distribution system that connects back to a wireless carrier’s network. If you’re thinking about Wi-Fi, think again. This cellular infrastructure is called a Distributed Antenna System (DAS).

What is DAS and how does it work?

DAS is a telecom infrastructure solution that connects the networks of the mobile operators to users in a building. Through a system of small antennas installed throughout the property, the solution emits a quality signal that all users can enjoy.

A true DAS is a standalone system that offers a dedicated service, rather than boosting signals captured externally. It is dimensioned to guarantee the best mobile connectivity experience for the site by accounting for characteristics unique to each enterprise, such as the architectural characteristics, flow of people and user profiles.

A DAS system consists of three main components:

Signal source

These units are responsible for both the signal generation produced by operators and also the signal reception by mobile devices. Signal sources manage signal generation and reception by interfacing with each carrier’s network core through which users connect to their desired applications and websites. This signal source is the same from both voice calls and data sessions.

Interface System

In a dedicated coverage system, the signal produced from the carrier’s “head-end” needs to be applied homogeneously throughout the area that requires the coverage improvement. For example, in a mall, the signal level coming from the source must be consistent at all points in the mall so that the signal can be combined across various technologies and frequencies and multiple operators. As such, there is only one single transmission path, and from this one path the system spreads signals throughout the venue.

 

Antennas

This signal, which has been combined across a single distribution route, requires an irradiation point called an antenna. This antenna needs to fit in aesthetically with the surrounding environment.

 
 

DAS is suitable for companies that have a great flow of people and whose consumption experience depends on connectivity.

When Wi-Fi is no longer sufficient

Wi-Fi may be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to wireless internet. It’s cheap, unregulated and fast to set up. However, Wi-Fi has its weaknesses.

First is network congestion. With hundreds of people and employees connected to a single network at the same time, this can lead to overload, slow speeds and unreliable connections. Since there is no regulation of the network, multiple Wi-Fi networks in close quarters can easily interfere with one another, further worsening the quality of the signal. Then there’s the issue of security: Wi-Fi security is notoriously vulnerable to threats, even with pesky password requirements. Wi-Fi also has no quality of service guarantees.

Since almost everyone today has a paid data plan, why not forego these strains by making better use of your mobile network? LTE has virtually zero network downtime, features robust service-level requirements, avoids any dropped calls, and is designed to accommodate seamless data sessions. LTE security is also the gold standard for encryption and user authorization, since it is based in unique SIM card identities, which means that your data stays safe no matter where you are connected.

Moreover, if there’s ever a problem with the WiFi network, the ensuing access problems could create real chaos. A good mobile network serves as an ideal backup should this occur.

The best user experience is when there are no breaks in connectivity. That is what a DAS guarantees.

The advantages of having a Neutral Host DAS solution

Neutral hosts are telecom infrastructure businesses that build shared networks that host all the wireless carriers at once. Some unique features of neutral hosts include:

As they met operators’ needs and formed relationships with various suppliers, neutral hosts created a solution that serves multiple parties simultaneously.

 

Neutral hosts have become specialists in telecom infrastructure due to their singular focus. They deploy new technologies and processes that steadily improve the quality of what is offered to the market.

 

Neutral hosts centralize the equipment needed for carriers to serve a given area, thereby lowering overall costs.

 

Through a neutral host, a venue does not need to maintain contacts within different operators. Neutral hosts serve as intermediaries between the venue and the operator, removing operational overhead for the venue and accelerating the speed of response in case maintenance is required.

 

Centralization eliminates the use of extra telecom equipment and helps minimize architectural and environmental impacts.

 

A wireless expert now within your reach

The best neutral hosts are experts when it comes to telecommunications infrastructure. Neutral hosts in the past only offered this expertise to the wireless carriers due to market demands, but now that expertise is available other types of companies that require connectivity, especially the enterprise. This means you don’t have to be a wireless carrier anymore to control your end user’s connectivity experience.

5G is already a reality and neutral hosts have the challenge to provide cost-effective and technically advanced solutions so that its potential is fully available to the end users.

 

QMC: we are DAS experts

QMC has emerged in this environment as an American multinational wireless infrastructure company with an asset base of 4,200+ projects installed and under development.

We have demonstrated our expertise through turn-key solutions for various segments of the market. Unlike other neutral host providers, which are typically speculative in nature, we empower the enterprise to take control of their own destiny with guaranteed 5G-ready mobile connectivity after the system is installed.

How do we guarantee this connectivity, where so many others have failed? Part of the reason lies in our flexible financial model. We don’t require upfront capital from venue owners. With QMC, owners can pay off the system and its long-term operational costs with a monthly fixed fee after we’ve taken all the upfront installation risk. We don’t get paid till carriers are on air.

Another reason why we empower venues with connectivity is how we work with the rest of the wireless ecosystem. We align all designs with our carrier partners in advance, ensuring that our deployments meet their quality standards. Our full suite of capabilities allows us to plug in to projects that have already begun but are perhaps missing certain elements, such as system design, contract management, sparing programs, or long-term capital. We add value while also ensuring that our partners win. That is what “fostering growth” means to us.

Our approach enables connectivity for a wide variety of venues that typically haven’t benefited from such a solution before. We help them turn pain points into strengths. In a time of surging data demand, we give venues a chance to improve their user experience and their competitiveness.

 

The QMC experience in numbers

175m+

Covered square feet

111m+

People served

35k+

Number of antennas

End-to-end indoor projects: your business covered at every stage

What venues are suitable for a DAS system?

The main types of venues where we operate include offices, residential properties, health systems, hotels, universities, malls, entertainment venues, industrial facilities, and airports.

DAS as a solution for your enterprise

Active DAS is ideal for large venues, such as malls, hotels, stadiums, hospitals, airports, universities and convention centers where considerable cellular capacity is required due to the high flow of people. It is an easily adaptable infrastructure for new technologies such as 5G and can be designed and installed for projects of any size. It also allows for remote monitoring. The active DAS uses fiber optic cables to distribute the signal from a base station – which gathers all the signals from the operators in one place – to antennas distributed throughout the property.

 
 
 

Learn more

Passive DAS uses passive components (hence the name) such as coaxial cables, splitters and diplexers to distribute the signal, which originates directly from the operators’ radio equipment through the low power antennas. It does so without converting the signal from RF to optical signal as in an Active DAS. The passive system does offer lower costs in relation to an active system, but it cannot be easily upgraded to new technologies or support other adaptations, such as changes in layout and the inclusion of additional coverage areas. Passive DAS systems work best in smaller venues where the flow of people is more limited.

 

Learn more

Lite DAS is a solution that allows a building owner to cover specific floors or sub-divisions of floors, rather than an entire building. Wen combined with a centralized solution, significant savings can be obtained by eliminating certain CAPEX costs and reducing OPEX.

A Lite DAS offers the same signal quality as a DAS but enjoys the economy of a more targeted solution.

Learn more

See who else already enjoys one of our dedicated indoor connectivity solutions

Uniquely welcoming patients with comfort, safety, and the latest technology are core values for the Vila Nova Star hospital in Sao Paulo, part of Rede D’Or. The hospital has developed a premium service concept that combines its 89 hospital beds in sophisticated and harmonious rooms, 38 of which are for intensive care, with a luxury “six stars” hotel service. The entire venue features artwork by the artist Yutaka Toyota, symbolizing resilience through integrating of technology with human strength.
One of the most visited tourist spots in Mexico City is the wide Paseo de La Reforma Avenue, which houses one of the city’s most emblematic monuments: the Monumento a la lndependencia – also called Angel de la lndependencia or, simply, El Angel. The work presents Winged Victoria (a character from Roman mythology), wearing a laurel wreath and a broken three-link chain at the top of a 46-meter column. It was erected to commemorate the centenary of Mexican Independence in 1910.
Cartagena de lndias is a charming historic city located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. With its cobblestone streets, ancient walls, and well­ preserved colonial architecture, the city has a rich history as an important port during the Spanish colonial era, reflected in its impressive colonial buildings, imposing fortresses, and magnificent churches. Furthermore, its stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, and tropical climate make Cartagena one of the most popular tourist destinations during the Latin American summer. Visitors can explore the historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with its lively squares, craft shops, delicious restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. The city has around one million inhabitants and received more than seven million tourists in 2022.
Expanded and renamed Sao Paulo Expo, the former lmigrantes Exhibition & Convention Center has become one of the most sought-after venues for events in Brazil and one of the largest and best­ structured exhibition centers in Latin America.
Located on the shores of Baia de Guanabara in Rio de Janeiro and enjoying a beautiful view of Pao de Açucar and Cristo Redentor, Bossa Nova Mall is a very peculiar shopping center. The project is the first in the segment connected to an airport in Brazil. It serves the enormous flow of passengers from Santos Dumont, one of the busiest in the country, in addition to the residences and businesses in the center and southern section of the city.
Brigadeiro Faria Lima Avenue in Sao Paulo is the most important business and financial center in the country. Anyone who goes to Sao Paulo on business is unlikely to miss this place. The growing influx of people and businesses in the region has, over the years, increased the complexity of providing quality mobile coverage.
Hospital do Coração do Brasil (HCBr) and Hospital Santa Luzia (HSL) are located in Brasília, Brazil’s capital. The hospitals are regional leaders in quality and service and form part of the D’Or São Luiz network, the largest network of private hospitals in Latin America.
Suppose you’re coming to São Paulo for business. In the largest economic and industrial center of the Southern Hemisphere, it’s hard not to pass by Brigadeiro Faria Lima Avenue, São Paulo’s Wall Street, which unites various multinational companies across the technology and finance sectors. One building stands out: Pátio Victor Malzoni, the largest corporate structure on Faria Lima.
The beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro is home to many attractions and popular destinations. In the affluent southern side of the city, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and Leblon Beach draw tourists and locals alike.
Imagine living and working in one of the best locations in Guadalajara, capital of Mexico’s Jalisco state, without worrying about furniture, appliances or services. You have everything that you need, except that whenever you want to call a customer or friend, there’s no cellular signal. Not even in the case of an emergency.
A sought-after destination for more than 2.5 million tourists in Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer stands at 124 feet high, weighing 1,145 tons. The monument is the city’s postcard and is considered one of the seven new wonders of the world. Located atop Corcovado Hill in Tijuca National Park, the area is covered by forest, which leads to poor cell phone coverage.
Healthcare providers increasingly rely on modern telecommunication solutions to deliver quality care for patients. As technology and public needs advance, investing in telecommunication solutions is key to long-term stability and operations. Distributed Antenna Systems (or DAS) for hospitals have emerged as the best way to improve connectivity, and a good example of this is found at Hospital Perinatal Barra.
Minas Gerais is known for its culture, history, and indescribable cuisine. One of the main point of entry to Minas Gerais is Belo Horizonte International Airport, located in the municipality of Confins. The airport is home to one of the busiest terminals in the country. In 2013, to prepare for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the federal government held an auction to privatize the airport for 30 years. The winner was a consortium formed by the CCR group and Zürich Airport.
The Vila Galé Cumbuco hotel is an all-inclusive resort in Praia do Cumbuco located 1.5 miles north of the Cumbuco village. Cumbuco village is part of the city of Caucaia, located 15 miles from Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará state, and 30 miles from the nearest airport.
Torre KOI, located in Monterrey, Mexico, is one of the tallest buildings in Latin America at a height of 280 meters. The tower contains both premium offices and luxury residential spaces, with important tenants such as Banorte and IOS Offices.
Viva Barranquilla is a mall located in Barranquilla, the capital of Atlántico State in Colombia with 1.2 million inhabitants. Barranquilla is the largest city in the state and has the second largest port in the northern Caribbean Coast.

“QMC was the best choice to implement the DAS system to solve the communication issues that we had in our mall. Professionally done, without interference or unforeseen events, our clients now have a better connectivity experience.”

Ricardo González

Real Estate Asset Manager, Grupo Éxito

 

“We must always work to improve the quality of the guest experience. We do not want mobile signal to be the issue that makes the customer choose another destination over us. QMC helped us, through  capillarity and flexibility, to achieve this goal.”

André Corcos

Infrastructure Director at Vila Galé Group

 

“The great advantage of having QMC as a partner is the ease of having a person on call to meet the client’s every need, without bureaucracy or infinite layers of customer support, in addition to its great technical know-how.”

Daniel Galante

General Director at São Paulo Expo

 

FAQ

The implementation of a DAS project is complex, but QMC manages the project in stages so that the enterprise is impacted as little as possible. QMC’s DAS solutions mostly use fiber cabling, which is thinner and lighter and thus much easier to pass through structures. In addition, we work with flexible hours so that our customers’ day-to-day activities are preserved as much as possible.

Another important point to note is that throughout the implementation, QMC will be focused on ensuring that the completed DAS structure will not be noticeable to passersby. The antennas must respect the architectural style of the venue and blend in with the surrounding environment.

 

Yes. DAS is an investment in infrastructure and, as such, needs to stand the test of time. However, QMC includes the maintenance as part of its service offering. We commit to an SLA that meets the carriers’ stringent requirements, and in the event that there is an issue, QMC offers customers a 24-hour support team. Our constant and proactive monitoring reduces the chance of technical problems that require major maintenance.

 

No. QMC builds antenna systems to distribute cellular signal through voice and data. No Wi-Fi signal is transmitted through QMC antennas. At present, the signals transmitted are 2G (for voice) and 3G, 4G and 5G (for data). 

Not really. Macro cellular towers are still very important in the mobile connection ecosystem, and those towers contain antennas that emit signal over long distances. However, in the case of indoor venues, the most commonly used antennas are much smaller and more discreet. They are often attached to the ceiling and are smaller than a Wi-Fi access point. QMC’s DAS projects always take into account the aesthetics of the establishment so that we can make the antennas appear as minimally intrusive as possible.

 

An indoor system is necessary to prevent users from experiencing a drop in mobile signal and data performance. The mobile tower signal encounters two problems when trying to connect to devices inside a venue:

  1. Physical barriers cause the mobile signal to lose strength.
  2. The towers, like any antenna, have a cap as to how many people can be connected without losing signal strength. If there are a lot of people trying to connect to it at the same time (think of a food court in the mall at lunchtime), the tower alone will not be able to do the job.

The antenna design suggested by QMC always requires approval by the venue owner before installation. This includes the number of antennas, their location and aesthetics. QMC makes the project as flexible as possible, so long as it does not compromise the quality of the system, in order to fit in with the existing aesthetics of the establishment.

 

In most cases this will be necessary for us to run cables through the ceiling. However, the QMC team always respects the hours that the venue owner makes the facility available to us. QMC adapts to your needs to minimize the impact on everyone involved and avoid jeopardizing day-to-day operations. The result of our implementations is not visible to you or your venue guests.

 

No. Our systems are designed such that all antennas receive signal from several operators, similar to the way a 24-hour ATM works for multiple banks.

 

Operators integrate their signal source equipment into the system built by QMC (usually in a specific head-end room within each project). All the operators need to do is connect a cable into our network and from that moment on the signal is released throughout the establishment.

 

QMC specializes in the infrastructure market: we build infrastructure in 5 countries and we have partnerships with all major local operators. All of our systems are built to accommodate all operators, which means that it is not necessary to have separate deployments for each operator or to juggle multiple parties (often with competing interests).

QMC interfaces with operators when necessary (not constantly) and is responsible for all maintenance. Imagine having a problem on the network and having to call all operators to figure out where the problem is. By working with QMC, you can focus on your core business and do not have to manage the entire relationship with the operators. This is all in addition to receiving dedicated customer service from QMC.

QMC is fully responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the room in which our equipment is installed.

 

The short answer is no – in most cases the antenna has its own signal, not a repeater.

 

QMC does not collect data from any consumer. We are a company that builds infrastructure – the bridge between establishments and operators. We do not have access to any data from users’ mobile phones and we do not have the capabilities to collect data from consumers.

 

No. QMC only emits signal by building systems that connect to the systems of mobile operators. Information security is a responsibility that rests with the operators.