Enterprise 3G 4G DAS System for Government

The best news that I have for you is that there are no complaints by staff – and this is the best sign of all of a functional and operational system. Overall performance is very good across the building.

Director, NTMA

Background

The National Treasury Management Agency is the agency that manages the assets and liabilities of the Government of Ireland. It was established in 1990 and its remit has grown significantly over the last 30 years. Its growth required an expansion for its growing employee numbers and in 2019 it moved premises to Dublin's new financial quarter in Dublin's famous North Docks.

NTMA invested in its future with a 25-year lease and a fund of €18m to fit out its offices to the highest physical and technical specifications to ensure its operations will attract and retain top talent, while ensuring its readiness for increasing digitalisation in public service agencies.

Their new home comprises 13,000 sqm of Grade A commercial office real estate for its near 600 employees.

Challenges and considerations

Digitising businesses with latest enabling technologies is always a challenge in construction phases of Grade A Office. Coordination and cooperation with multiple contractors working on multiple technology deliveries such as DAS systems at the same time is key to ensuring a happy customer.

This particular distributed antenna system had exacting timelines to ensure that the customer's move from their old premises to new premises was seamless for employees and management. Often there is never enough time and it requires skilled stakeholder management as well as an installation of the highest standard to sit comfortably with the architectural decadence of this modern building.

The customers expectation was a distributed antenna system designed, installed and commissioned to the highest level of standards in appearance and functionality. Every corner of this building required a 5-bar mobile experience, so we worked hard to create a DAS in-building system that enabled both 3G and 4G coverage.

Solutions and delivery

Our experts carefully considered the design of the building in our approach to the DAS in-building wireless solution. Proposed antenna locations were chosen in areas with limited obstructions to maximise signal propagation. Efficient use of cable routes and cable type allowed us to minimise system signal loss enabling us to design and install a high performing cost efficient-system.

Two Ericsson RBS 6505 units were installed to provide the required 3G and 4G distributed antenna system coverage throughout the building. The use of a 4x4 hybrid combiner allowed us to make the system multi-operator capable. Ultra low-profile (as thin as an iPhone) high performance Laird antennas were chosen to improve aesthetic and install a system that was almost visually unnoticeable.

Our DAS systems were installed in stages to ensure maximum benefit to the clients requirements in consideration of their entire construction project.

Contact

To discuss our indoor distributed antenna system designs in more detail or to discuss further technical specs of a DAS system, please contact Gearoid Collins at gearoid.collins@vilicom.com

About Vilicom

Vilicom is an expert provider of wireless services with over seventeen years of experience in the analysis, design, test and implementation of wireless networks. Vilicom’s strengths lie in technology strategy consulting, the design of wireless networks, transmission network design, implementation of specialised coverage solutions and network benchmarking and testing. Vilicom has delivered its trademark end-to-end services in over 20 countries for network operators, network equipment vendors, industry regulators and investors. It delivers value for its customers by adopting a flexible, customer-focused approach, retaining cutting-edge expertise and maintaining its independence.