Changes to DAS and Wi-Fi cabling standards

Indoor wireless networks are evolving at an astonishing rate. The adoption of faster,
more sophisticated technologies and equipment is escalating. The workplace is
embracing BYOD as a way to reduce costs and increase productivity. These changes
underline the need to thoroughly plan your cabling infrastructure to ensure it can
support current and future wireless technologies. Standards organizations are helping
users keep pace, by updating existing standards and developing new ones. Based on
TIA’s recent standards activities, CommScope has developed this tip sheet to help keep
you abreast of the changes and understand how they affect your ability to support
wireless applications indoors.

New standards for DAS and Wi-Fi cabling

Cabling guidelines for Cabling for educational Addresses the use of

wireless access points
Key points for TIA TSB-162-A and
ISO/IEC TR24704
• Network planning of outlets should be
based on a grid of coverage areas
• The TIA standard recommends a square
grid with 18 meter sides. The ISO/IEC
standard recommends a honeycomb
grid with “radius” of 12 meters.
• Category 6A/Class EA should be used to
satisfy bandwidth and increased POE
current-carrying needs
facilities (also applies to large
indoor areas)
Key points for TIA-4966
• Provides premise specific
recommendations beyond the ANSI/
TIA-568-0.D standard to accommodate
other applications commonly found in
educational facilities, such as BAS, WAP,
DAS, security and other emerging
intelligent building applications
• Provides a capacity table that
determines the number of WAPs
needed based on occupancy
• Suggests Category 6A for balanced
twisted-pair cabling and OM3/OM4
for optical fiber cabling
structured cabling to
support DAS
Key points for TIA TSB-5018
Still in development
• Recommends use of an established
grid size based on the generic cabling
system structure in ANSI/TIA-568-0.D
and TIA TSB-162-A
• DAS cabling options include optical and
balanced twisted-pair cabling, consistent
with traditional IT networks
• Planning for DAS also addressed
in ISO/IEC 11801-6 Annex A.
• Regardless of the cabling architecture,
the wireless service provider(s) must be
contacted to determine the technical
specifications for the DAS

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How do the changes affect you?
1. Makes network planning easier and more accurate 3. Allows you to expand your network’s footprint with
Data demand is growing so fast that the macro network might minimal disruption
not be able to keep up. Providing an IBW system helps ensure Your systems use many individual components. To avoid early
that your customers have the freedom to fully experience their obsolescence or expensive wholesale changeouts, deploy
wireless devices indoors. future-ready hardware designed to optimize compatibility and
interoperability. System components that work better the
2. E
 nsures headroom for capacity growth longer they work together require less maintenance and
No two buildings are exactly alike. Before deciding which ultimately reduce cost of ownership.
way to go, take time to explore and understand your building’s
physical infrastructure. Every nuance matters. For example, the
low emissivity window tinting used in modern green buildings
blocks not only heat and light, but also wireless signals.

Additional tips for success: Learn more

• Use at least two runs of Category 6A cabling to each access
point (AP), preferably using a zone architecture
• Install at least four runs of Category 6A cabling per AP to each
zone distributor to provide future additional capacity to each AP or
support the installation of additional APs with minimal disruption
CommScope is here with the information you need to make
the right choice for your in-building wireless networks. Find
more detailed information on the evolving standards and how
they affect you here. Or feel free to contact one of our
CommScope enterprise wireless experts.

• Use the square cell grid strategy with pre-cabling to allow for
easy plug-in and flexible positioning of APs

• Consider multimode fiber for backhaul where data rates

higher than 10 Gbps are expected and in outdoor distances
of 100 meters or more

• Limit the mixing of older and newer APs to a temporary transition

phase since older versions can slow network performance

• Supplement the pre-cabling and AP layout with site surveys

and performance evaluations using functional APs and clients
to optimize the placement and programming of each AP

Everyone communicates. It’s the essence of the human experience. How we communicate is evolving. Technology
is reshaping the way we live, learn and thrive. The epicenter of this transformation is the network—our passion. Our
experts are rethinking the purpose, role and usage of networks to help our customers increase bandwidth, expand
capacity, enhance efficiency, speed deployment and simplify migration. From remote cell sites to massive sports
arenas, from busy airports to state-of-the-art data centers—we provide the essential expertise and vital infrastructure
your business needs to succeed. The world’s most advanced networks rely on CommScope connectivity.

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All trademarks identified by ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc. This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify
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CO-111653.1-EN (05/17)