Legacy technologies like distributed antenna systems (DAS) can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments and are multi-operator compatible. DAS have been deployed by MNOs, towercos and third party neutral hosts for many years, and still have an important role to play in cellular networks. However, there are various limitations often cited by the market, namely that they are cumbersome, complex to install, and typically have a high price point. DAS costs often run into the millions (GBP / USD) meaning that a consortia of multiple operators are often sought to make the deployment economically viable (a process that is politically complex, time consuming, and threatened by operator spectrum sensitivities).
Zara Nathan,
November 01, 2017