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The growth of indoor mobile usage and the rollout of 5G are creating new challenges for in-building mobile coverage across commercial and public buildings. Depending on the site, several DAS architectures can be considered: passive DAS, hybrid DAS and active DAS.
Each approach offers specific benefits in terms of cost, scalability, monitoring and RF performance.
Choosing the right DAS architecture mainly depends on:
A passive DAS remains widely used for mid-sized projects with controlled radio requirements. Hybrid and active DAS architectures provide greater flexibility for more complex or fast-evolving environments.
| Key features | Passive DAS | Active DAS (e-g. ZoneDAS Two) | Hybrid DAS |
| Cabling | Heavy coaxial cable (7/8" or 1/2") | Fibre optic or twisted pair cable (CAT6a/CAT7) | Fibre or twisted pair to the remote unit, then coaxial cable to the antennas |
| Signal loss | High, especially over long distances, with splitters and across 5G frequencies | Very low thanks to optical or analogue signal transport | Only present on the final coaxial section |
| Management and monitoring | Limited monitoring | Proactive monitoring via Web GUI, SNMP and VLAN | Partial monitoring up to the remote unit |
| 5G n77/n78 compatibility | Possible depending on the architecture and cable run lengths | Optimised for 5G NR bands with bandwidth up to 300 MHz | Dependent on RF losses in the coaxial section |
| Scalability | RF redesign is more restrictive when changes are needed | Modular architecture with simplified addition of bands or remote units | Flexible on the backbone network, more limited on the antenna side |
| Multi-operator support | Possible | Native through a Neutral Host architecture | Possible |
| MIMO Support | Limited depending on the passive architecture | 4x4 MIMO compatible | Possible depending on the architecture (up to 4x4) |
| Typical use cases | Offices, hotels, small public buildings | Stadiums, transport hubs, campuses, large complexes | Mid-sized sites and extended buildings |
A passive DAS is still highly relevant for medium-sized buildings where RF distances remain manageable. Its straightforward deployment and cost efficiency make it a reliable solution for many indoor coverage projects.
A hybrid DAS brings more flexibility to larger sites while retaining part of the passive infrastructure.
In high-density environments or projects requiring strong scalability, an active DAS makes it easier to manage radio performance, multi-operator support and future 5G evolution.
Zyxel ZoneDAS Two belongs to the new generation of high-power active DAS solutions. Its analogue architecture supports mobile technologies from 2G to 5G on a single infrastructure.
The solution includes:
Support for low-power small cell signals can also simplify certain indoor wireless architectures while keeping infrastructure costs under control.
There is no one-size-fits-all architecture for indoor mobile coverage. The right choice depends on technical constraints, user density and long-term network evolution goals.
Passive DAS, hybrid DAS
and active DAS each address different use cases. The key is to select the solution that delivers the expected performance today while preparing for the future of indoor mobile networks.
Telenco supports customers in analysing their in-building mobile coverage needs in order to identify the most suitable DAS solution for the site, usage requirements and deployment constraints. Whether the best fit is a passive, hybrid
or active DAS architecture, the goal is to define the most effective technical answer for long-term performance.
Compare passive, active and hybrid DAS architectures to design reliable indoor 5G coverage for your building, operators and future network needs.
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