- Limited mobile capacity and coverage are a growing concern at higher education organizations. Distributed antenna systems (DAS) are becoming a widely accepted technology for increasing mobile wireless capabilities. However, the steps for implementing a DAS project are complex and unclear.
- Implementing DAS is not a small project. Determining IT’s role and gaining stakeholder buy-in will require a strong argument for DAS.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Mobile wireless capacity and coverage are insufficient. Changing end-user habits and evolving technology are causing wireless issues.
- It is IT’s job to get the ball rolling. IT should take the lead in exploring the potential of DAS at your organization.
- DAS is more about relationships than technology. Don’t expect systems integrators or carriers to do all the heavy lifting; IT needs to collaborate at every stage.
Impact and Result
- Understand the key drivers and components behind a DAS solution.
- Use Info-Tech’s DAS Business Proposal template to provide a convincing argument to stakeholders for implementing DAS at your organization.
- Use Info-Tech’s DAS RFP Template and DAS RFP Sample to solicit and evaluate responses from vendors interested in working with your organization to implement DAS.
- Understand IT’s role before, during, and after the implementation of a DAS solution.
Workshop: Prepare for a Wireless World With Distributed Antenna Systems in Higher Education
Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
Module 1: Understand the Role of Distributed Antenna Systems in Higher Education
The Purpose
- Understand how the changing mobile wireless landscape is affecting higher education.
- Understand IT’s role in a DAS implementation for higher education.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Determine how DAS can be used in your organization.
- Determine IT’s role in a DAS implementation.
Activities
Outputs
1.1
Understand DAS and decide on implementation.
- Go/No-Go Decision for DAS
Module 2: Gain Stakeholder Approval Through a DAS Business Proposal
The Purpose
- Develop a business proposal with key drivers behind a DAS implementation for your higher education institution.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Gain stakeholder approval for moving forward with developing an RFP and implementing DAS in your organization.
Activities
Outputs
2.1
Develop a DAS Business Proposal that highlights key information required for gaining stakeholder approval.
- A completed DAS Business Proposal which can be used to gain stakeholder approval.
Module 3: Develop and Refine a DAS RFP
The Purpose
- Understand the components behind a complete RFP for soliciting potential DAS vendors.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Understand best practices when developing an RFP for DAS.
- Have a better understanding of the components in a DAS RFP.
- Understand best practices for scoring DAS RFP responses.
Activities
Outputs
3.1
Develop and refine a DAS RFP.
- A completed DAS RFP.
Module 4: Work With Key Parties Involved to Ensure the DAS Project is Successful
The Purpose
- Understand next steps for implementing DAS after a vendor is selected to implement the solution.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Have a strong understanding for what to expect before beginning a DAS implementation.
Activities
Outputs
4.1
Understand IT’s role in DAS.
- A plan for involving the right parties in a DAS implementation and managing relationships.