Ensuring Reliable Availability of Your DAS
In order to safeguard the reliability of your Distributed Antenna System (DAS), it’s important to implement a comprehensive monitoring and maintenance program. When selecting a DAS integrator to design and deploy your system, verify whether they also provide monitoring and maintenance services. If they don’t, you’ll need to find a reputable provider. And if they do, you’ll still want to ensure they have a systematic approach for proactive and reactive monitoring and maintenance.
Don’t leave your organization, tenants, and customers vulnerable to degradations of service or complete outages by neglecting the upkeep of your DAS. The following steps are high-level guidelines for selecting a DAS maintenance vendor and what a robust maintenance framework should look like.
1. Drafting the SLA Document
Your vendor should have a clearly defined Service Level Agreement (SLA) that outlines the response time expectations for the maintenance vendor during a troubleshooting event. The SLA should stipulate how swiftly they will respond to both your requests for assistance and alerts given off by their monitoring systems. The SLA may also stipulate time frames based on “regular” hours (weekdays) and “off-hours,” establishing different – but still reasonable – timeframes for each.
2. Implementing a Support Ticket Process
DAS Maintenance providers should have a structured process for handling support tickets. This involves establishing criteria to distinguish issues related to the DAS from those from user devices. Their process should showcase the escalation protocols for involving the carrier and manage the entire lifecycle of a complaint. A well-structured trouble ticket process ensures early identification and efficient resolution of issues, letting you rest assured that experts are managing the process.
3. Selecting and Engaging a Maintenance Vendor
Selecting a maintenance vendor is more than just a contractual agreement. It’s a strategic partnership that demands mutual understanding and flexibility. When choosing a maintenance vendor, you should ensure they align with your needs and objectives and – if necessary – collaborate with them to formulate an agreement tailored to your specific requirements. This step is crucial in ensuring a seamless partnership and effective resolution of any potential issues. For example, if their SLA doesn’t have a quick enough turnaround time for response to ensure business-critical connectivity, work with them to get those steps adjusted so that you’re satisfied that your company’s needs will be met. If the vendor is unable to accommodate your requirements, then you may consider looking elsewhere.
4. Establishing Remote Monitoring
One of the most critical aspects of selecting a DAS maintenance vendor is evaluating their capabilities for remote monitoring. With remote monitoring, your vendor can keep a watchful eye on your system anytime, anywhere, and receive alerts as soon as something is amiss. In the event of a failure or inconsistency, the vendor will be able to investigate the issue and proactively begin remediation without having to wait for a ticket to come through. Remote access is key to minimizing service disruptions, and working closely with your vendor to establish a reliable connectivity solution is crucial for proactive issue resolution.
5. Setting the Frequency of Health Checks
Prioritize preventive maintenance by working with a DAS maintenance vendor who will schedule regular health checks for your DAS equipment. Visual inspections and testing are integral to extending the lifespan of your equipment investment and regular health checks help identify potential issues before they escalate, ensuring your DAS solution’s longevity and optimal performance.
With regularly scheduled health checks, your system will be proactively maintained. In the event that equipment begins to show signs of damage, it can be replaced well before there are service issues. Similarly, when new technology is introduced to the market, your vendor will be able to make evaluations as to replacements or upgrades on a routine basis, rather than having to wait for your organization to notice a degradation in service and request a change.
About MCA
MCA is one of the largest and most trusted DAS integrators in the United States, offering world-class voice, data, and security solutions that enhance the quality, safety, and productivity of customers, operations, and lives.
More than 65,000 customers trust MCA to provide carefully researched solutions for a safe, secure, and more efficient workplace. As your trusted advisor, we reduce the time and effort needed to research, install, and maintain the right solutions to make your workplace better.
Our team of certified professionals across the United States delivers a full suite of reliable technologies with a service-first approach. The MCA advantage is our extensive service portfolio to support the solution lifecycle from start to finish.
