CommScope builds better, smarter bridge for linking base stations to distributed antenna systems

BANGALORE, INDIA: An “all-in-one,” intelligent point of interface from CommScope offers a smarter way to bridge the connection between base transceiver stations (BTS) and the distributed antenna systems (DAS) that enable wireless connectivity in buildings and large venues.

By some industry estimates, more than 75 percent of today’s mobile calls originate or terminate indoors. Carriers are ramping up DAS deployments to match this growth. With an active option like CommScope’s i-POI, they have another tool for helping manage an aspect of the network that’s been a blind spot and potential source of expense, especially when issues go unnoticed only to become major problems over time.

Visionary by design, CommScope’s new i-POI lends insight into BTS conditioning, helps gain control over passive intermodulation (PIM), provides power control for multi-operator deployment and blends all of these capabilities into a single, compact module.

“Wireless operators, systems integrators and facility owners commonly face issues when planning a DAS deployment or upgrading an existing system,” said Matt Melester, senior vice president and general manager, Distributed Coverage and Capacity Solutions, CommScope. “Their most pressing concerns surround the lack of visibility into the BTS conditioning process, drops in data throughput due to PIM and space constraints. i-POI meets these challenges head on—whether in current CommScope Intelligent Optical Network (ION) environments or a third-party DAS infrastructure.”

i-POI’s smart approach to reducing the components required for BTS conditioning also enables increased visibility into the process of preparing signals for broad distribution. In conventional configurations, BTS conditioning is implemented by piecing together several different discrete components, often from multiple manufacturers. That requires more space and equipment. Design and installation costs also go up and there’s greater potential for introducing PIM into the network.

Multiply that by several carriers with varied frequency bands and things fast become difficult to manage. i-POI makes a complex problem simple and delivers further local and remote monitoring capabilities for setting, controlling, and alarming input and output power levels. Also compared to conventional footprints, i-POI’s sleek, smaller form reduces space requirements by up to 75 percent. i-POI is available now in North America and launches in other regions in the coming months.