Installing an in-building coverage solution is a costly and time consuming effort. A cost effective indoor solution is required to bring cellular operators and property owners a fast return on their investment.

Clariton Networks developed CableCell IBS, a unique solution for improving in-building cellular coverage in commercial buildings such as hotels, hospitals, MTU/MDU and office buildings. CableCell IBS is an active Distributed Antenna System (DAS) based on the existing coax cables infrastructure, used to distribute TV signals within the building. Coverage is achieved using Cellular Access Points (PINDU), a simple inexpensive device connected to the TV outlet.

Architecture

Typical commercial buildings have built in TV distribution networks. TV content is distributed from a central point via cables, taps and dividers to outlets throughout the building. Signal losses due to cable attenuation are compensated with amplifiers.

CableCell IBS is an active Distributed Antenna System with constant power transmitted from each antenna. CableCell IBS carries wireless signals in the existing TV coax network operating at frequencies above the TV transmission. Wireless equipment such as a cellular BTS or repeater is installed at the building head end and connected to the TV network through the CableCell equipment which shifts the original cellular frequency to one that can pass through the cable network. All signal losses are compensated automatically using cellular amplifiers in parallel to the TV amplifiers. The combined TV and wireless signals propagate through the cable network to rooms and offices, “lighting up” the whole building simultaneously. In every few rooms a small Cellular Access Point called PINDU is connected to the cable outlet and transmits the original wireless signals at low power. There is no modification to the original signal generated by the cellular equipment, so existing cell phones can be used in the normal way. CableCell elements can be remotely controlled and configured using an NMS