Neutral-Host DAS & Public Safety BDA Installation for a Multi-Tower Headquarters
Snapshot
- Facility: Two-building, 9-story HQ + 6 below-grade parking levels
- Size Covered: ~1.28M sq. ft.
- Users: 4,000+ onsite staff & visitors
- Scope: Neutral-host DAS + ERCES (Public Safety), RF survey, integration & ongoing maintenance
- Timeline: 16 weeks, turnkey
Client (Anonymized)
A privately held U.S. company providing insurance and tech care for smartphones, tablets, and consumer electronics worldwide. With tens of thousands of employees and billions in annual revenue, the client depends on reliable cellular and first-responder radio coverage to keep customer support, claims processing, and logistics running smoothly.
Challenge
The headquarters spanned two interconnected towers built with dense steel, glass, and concrete plus a 740,000 sq. ft. parking garage six floors below grade. Pain points included:
- Dead zones on lower floors, stairwells, elevators, and the garage
- Dropped calls affecting help desk/claims teams
- Throughput bottlenecks during shift changes and events
- Public safety coverage gaps below IFC 510 / NFPA 72 thresholds
- A requirement for a neutral-host design supporting multiple carriers and future 5G, with minimal operational disruption
Pre-Project KPIs (Baseline)
- Median RSRP: −118 to −125 dBm (many floors sub-threshold)
- Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR): 72%
- DL throughput (median): 2–5 Mbps (peak congestion: <1 Mbps)
- Public Safety DAQ: 2.0–2.6 in critical zones (below code)
- “No Service” test points: 31%
Objectives
- Deliver building-wide, neutral-host Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) System for all major U.S. carriers and licensed spectrum bands.
- Achieve code-compliant ERCES with AHJ coordination, including stairwells and fire command center.
- Provide scalable capacity for future 5G and tenant growth.
- Implement with zero downtime to mission-critical operations.
What the Maximum Communications Team Did
1) Full Lifecycle Delivery
- RF Site Surveys & iBwave Design: Multi-band, multi-operator modeling with special focus on the garage and vertical risers
- Carrier Coordination: Signal source planning, methods of procedure, and on-air integration windows
- Installation: Head-end room buildout, fiber backbone, remote units, passive coax/antenna plant, and public safety donor/BDAs
- Commissioning & Optimization: PIM/VSWR sweeps, balancing, EIRP tuning, and live-load walk tests
- AHJ & Compliance: Grid testing for ERCES, verification in stairwells and fire command center, uplink/downlink isolation
- Handover & Care: 24/7 remote monitoring, SLA-backed maintenance, and a complete test documentation package
2) Solution Architecture (High Level)
- Neutral-host digital DAS head-end with sectorized design feeding 22 remote units across both towers and all subgrade levels
- Fiber distribution with dual strands per RU for redundancy and growth
- Passive antenna system tuned for even RSRP/RSRQ and voice quality (VoLTE/VoNR-ready)
- ERCES/Public Safety: Class-A BDAs for 700/800 MHz with battery backup, annunciators, and dedicated test points
- Future-proofing: Spare RU capacity, dark fiber pairs, and reserved rack/U space for 5G mid-band additions
1) Full Lifecycle Delivery
RF site surveys & iBwave design
We modeled all carriers and bands. The garage and vertical risers got extra focus so coverage holds on every level.
Carrier coordination
We planned signal sources with each carrier, agreed on methods of procedure, and booked on-air integration windows to keep cutovers smooth.
Installation
We built the head-end room, ran the fiber backbone, set the remote units, and finished the passive coax and antenna plant. Public-safety donor antennas and BDAs were included where required.
Commissioning & optimization
We ran PIM and VSWR sweeps, balanced the system, and tuned EIRP. Live-load walk tests confirmed performance with people on the network.
AHJ & compliance
We completed ERCES grid tests, checked stairwells and the fire command center, and verified uplink/downlink isolation to code.
Handover & care
The team delivered 24/7 remote monitoring, SLA-backed maintenance, and a full test and closeout package.
2) Solution Architecture (High Level)
Neutral-host digital DAS
A sectorized head-end feeds 22 remote units across both towers and all subgrade levels.
Fiber distribution
Each RU has dual fiber strands for redundancy now and growth later.
Passive antenna system
Antennas are tuned for even RSRP/RSRQ and clear voice quality. The system is ready for VoLTE and VoNR.
ERCES / public safety
Class-A BDAs on 700/800 MHz include battery backup, annunciators, and dedicated test points.
Future-proofing
We reserved spare RU capacity, dark fiber pairs, and rack/U space for 5G mid-band additions without major rework.
Results
Before vs. After (Key Metrics)
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor RSRP (median) | −121 dBm | −89 dBm |
| CSSR (Call Setup Success Rate) | 72% | 99.3% |
| DL Throughput (median) | 2–5 Mbps | 85–220 Mbps |
| “No Service” Test Points | 31% | <1% |
| Public Safety DAQ (critical areas) | 2.0–2.6 | ≥3.4 (code-compliant) |
| Help-desk Tickets (mobility) | Baseline | −68% in first 60 days |
| NPS (Employee Connectivity) | +34 | +72 (post-deployment survey) |
Day-One Improvements
- Underground garage: Full-bar coverage, reliable VoLTE, clean handoffs between elevator banks and lobbies
- High-density floors: Sustained throughput under peak loads; softphone failovers verified
- Public safety: IFC 510 / NFPA 72 acceptance signed by AHJ, no waivers needed
Execution Highlights
- Zero operational downtime: Night-shift cutovers; noisy works isolated per floor/zone
- Clean cable management: Color-coded labeling, QR-linked as-builts, acceptance test archives
- SLA & Monitoring: 4-hour on-site response for critical alarms, monthly performance health reports
Business Impact
- Continuity: Claims and support teams maintained KPIs through seasonal spikes
- Risk Reduction: Eliminated compliance exposure; occupancy and inspections cleared without conditions
- Scalability: Spare RU capacity and reserved spectrum pathways for 5G mid-band and private LTE/5G pilots
- Experience: Better visitor and contractor onboarding; fewer access delays from signal loss
What’s Next
- Carrier aggregation tuning and CBRS/private 5G pilot on logistics floors
- Quarterly heat-map audits to track density shifts and refine sectors
- Proactive component refresh (PS batteries, filters) on a 36-month cycle
Industry Leading Partners
At Maximum Communications, we are proud of the team of industrial experts and the certified industrial manufacturers we have. On this project, we would like to appreciate all of our team of certified professionals and manufactures to give our client a satisfactory result and a executing a perfect solution.
