Your technicians shouldn’t have to walk outside to take a call or use a mobile work app. We design and install cellular DAS for data halls, colocation floors and the operations areas around them.
Coverage for operations, security, and tenant suites
Data centers are built to protect hardware, not to carry cellular signal
A data center is built to keep the outside world out. Cellular signal is part of the outside world. Concrete, metal and windowless interior spaces can leave whole areas with no usable signal, and metal racking and cabinets weaken what's left.
Technicians, tenants and visiting engineers need reliable calls and mobile data where your site permits cellular use. We focus on the places they work and move between, including corridors, operations rooms and agreed tenant areas.
At a 797,000 sq ft data center in Washington, D.C., we installed an off-air active DAS using fiber-fed remote units. The work included escorted tenant access and before-and-after coverage testing.
What we get called in to fix
Windowless dead zones
Concrete, metal and windowless interior spaces leave areas with no usable signal.
Weak signal in the rack rows
Metal racks and cabinets weaken the signal that does reach the data halls.
Calls and work apps that lose connection
Weak cellular coverage interrupts calls and mobile data where technicians need to work.
Coverage that stops short of the work areas
One booster rarely covers a large data floor, especially when outdoor signal is weak.
Emergency calls affected by dead zones
Cellular dead zones can prevent emergency calls from connecting over the mobile network.
Public safety radio coverage gaps
First responder radio coverage is assessed separately from cellular service.
Compatibility depends on the equipment and the installation. We review the relevant manufacturer requirements with your technical team, then specify antenna locations, transmit power and separation distances accordingly.
Where field-strength measurements or a specialist assessment are needed, we agree on the scope before installation. Any required limits and verification steps are included in the commissioning plan.
Do UPS systems, cooling and dense racks affect a DAS?
Metal racks, cabinets and equipment enclosures can weaken or redirect cellular signals. We measure signal strength and quality in the actual work areas and account for the layout when planning antennas.
Where interference is suspected, we assess it rather than assuming that nearby power or cooling equipment is the cause. The survey and any additional measurements help determine whether the issue is coverage, interference or a combination.
How do you install around live data-center operations?
We plan the work through your site’s change-control and access procedures. Before installation, we agree on the work sequence, maintenance windows, escort requirements and any temporary restrictions around live equipment.
Cable routes and equipment locations are reviewed with your facilities team, including overhead work, aisle access and any raised-floor work. Where a cutover or interruption is needed, we agree on the affected services, timing and recovery plan before proceeding.
The installation plan identifies what can happen during normal operations and what requires a separate approved window.
Which carriers can you support, and who coordinates their approvals?
We design multi-carrier systems for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, with the included networks and supported services identified in your proposal. We assess rooftop signal, user demand and dedicated carrier-equipment options before selecting the signal sources.
RSRF coordinates the required technical submissions and integration. Each carrier controls its own approvals and any equipment or activation it provides.
A large floor area does not automatically require a dedicated carrier signal source, but a low headcount does not prove that rooftop signal will be sufficient. We assess the actual requirements.
Can the system support both commercial cellular coverage and a private LTE network on the same infrastructure?
In some designs, yes. The DAS must support the frequencies, interfaces and signal levels used by both the mobile carriers and the private network. We confirm compatibility before recommending shared infrastructure.
The private network still needs its radio and core services, device provisioning and security configuration. Sharing antennas does not create those functions by itself.
We review your operational use cases and IT requirements, then explain whether a shared or separate design is the better fit.
What is the typical project timeline for a data center DAS deployment?
Depending on the size and complexity, installing DAS in a data center can take between 4 and 16 weeks, with additional time if coordination with carriers to bring signal sources on-site is necessary.
How do you handle coverage inside cages and individual colocation suites?
We agree with the operator and tenant which spaces should receive cellular service and what access is permitted. Cage construction, suite walls and equipment layouts are assessed during the survey rather than assuming coverage in the corridor will reach inside.
Where additional antennas are needed, we coordinate their placement and cabling with the responsible teams. Intentionally RF-shielded spaces require a separate review of their purpose and restrictions before cellular coverage is proposed.
Tenant fit-outs, new racks or additional suites may require adjustments and retesting. We assess the existing system before confirming what can be reused.
Ready to improve coverage across your data center?
Book a free 30-minute call with an RSRF DAS specialist. We’ll discuss suitable approaches, budget considerations and the next steps toward a surveyed design. No commitment required.
[email protected]
(800) 637-4049
