Campus
Become a smarter, more connected digital campus
We provide all of the solutions and services you need to take faster, more reliable wireless connectivity throughout campuses of all sizes. We combine our world-renowned expertise in futureproof indoor connectivity solutions with the latest advances in outdoor connectivity solutions and a complete suite of turnkey services to simplify campus network evolution. Schools have the end-to-end campus network needed to digitally transform and better support students and staff today and tomorrow.
Learn moreChallenges
Campus Challenges
Large spaces
Taking seamless, high-capacity wireless connectivity throughout the many large buildings and expansive open spaces on campuses isn’t easy. Older buildings, often with many rooms, can make it difficult to install wireless equipment and cables. And large, open spaces must be fully covered without adding unsightly infrastructure everywhere.
Diverse applications
Campus networks must support a wide variety of commercial and mission-critical voice, video and data applications and services with the right performance levels, indoors and out. To support these many different requirements, wireless networks must be technology- and frequency-agnostic, and make the most efficient possible use of spectrum.
High demands
With the large volumes of data and video consumed on campuses, and greater need to support online learning, wireless networks must deliver high capacity and high throughput at all times, everywhere on campus. This is the only way to ensure end users always enjoy high quality of service and quality of experience.
Interference
The many different types of wireless equipment, technologies and devices needed to support Wi-Fi, public safety and traditional commercial communications across campuses increases the potential for interference. It takes significant RF expertise and precision-engineered wireless solutions to mitigate interference and ensure high-quality wireless coverage and capacity everywhere on campus.
Vandalism
Bringing important new wireless technologies, such as 5G, to ground level where they’re needed, puts wireless infrastructure at far more risk of vandalism. All wireless solutions that could potentially be physically accessed by an unauthorized person must be designed and built to withstand tampering attempts and prevent the potential for damage.
Industry Trends
5G indoors
With 5G becoming available outdoors, it’s only natural to bring its speed, reliability, security and low latency into campus buildings. A high-capacity distributed radio system (DRS) is a very effective way to do this. The DRS supports:
- Multiple operators and technologies in an interference-free and cost-effective way
- Advanced features that increase network speed and make more efficient use of spectrum
- Flexible capacity scaling to support new wireless services and applications indoors
Safety and security
To ensure students and staff have access to communications and information everywhere without cluttering campuses with unattractive infrastructure, many campuses are adding solutions that hide wireless infrastructure in plain sight. These solutions include outdoor light poles that:
- Enclose wireless equipment so it’s not visible
- Provide smart LED lighting to light-up campuses in a cost-effective way
- Support security cameras and emergency call buttons
- Include LED displays for campus announcements and emergency notifications
Uninterrupted services
Using small radius radio cells to bring high-quality coverage and capacity to difficult-to-cover areas on campuses is a great way to ensure everyone has access to uninterrupted services. Small-size antennas are also ideal to strengthen mission-critical wireless connectivity in key campus locations. The focus is on small cell antennas that are:
- Extremely compact, yet provide multiple ports
- Lightweight, yet highly wind resistant
- Versatile to support neutral-host and shared-infrastructure deployments
Private networks
With the wide variety of student, smart classroom, remote learning and security requirements to support on campuses, a dedicated 4G or 5G wireless network has become an attractive option. A fully tailored private wireless network:
- Provides a single, converged, 5G-ready network for all campus applications and services
- Delivers the capacity, reliability, performance and low latency needed to support real-time communications and information
- Ensures network security end-to-end
Fire proofing
Maintaining campus communications during fires is essential to save lives. All cabling used in wireless connectivity solutions must meet one or more major fire safety standards, such as the:
- International Electromechanical Commission (IEC) standards for low smoke, flame and fire retardance
- Construction Products Regulation (CPR) standard with best-in-class ratings for burning droplets (d0), low smoke emission (s1) and corrosivity (a1)
RFS Solutions
Urban-Based Infrastructure
RFS Urban-Based Infrastructure (UBI) solutions include all of the wireless connectivity and digital solutions needed to bring 5G to street level and deliver connected city applications. We provide everything from the street pole to integrated cables, antennas and filters, as well as security cameras, sensors, and emergency call solutions. All of our UBI solutions include a comprehensive range of installation, maintenance and commissioning services as well as management and monitoring software.
HYBRIFLEX® Solutions for Buildings and Campuses
RFS HYBRIFLEX solutions for building and campuses make it fast and easy to bring fiber and power to distributed antenna system (DAS), distributed radio system (DRS) and small cells deployments in these environments. The solutions target requirements for high-density, plug-and-play fiber, mission-critical connectivity and indoor/outdoor cross-campus connectivity. They support all wired and wireless technologies and frequencies and are optimized for high-bandwidth Radio over Fiber (RoF) applications.
CPR-Compliant Radiating and Coaxial Cables
RFS CPR-compliant radiating and coaxial cables feature a specially developed jacket that allows them to achieve best-in-class ratings for burning droplets (d0), low smoke emission (s1) and corrosivity (a1), the most important criteria for fire safety in cables that are installed indoors and underground. All RFS CPR-compliant cables are also designated as low-smoke, zero-halogen (LSZH) and meet International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for flame spread, smoke acidity and low smoke emission.
Passive RF Components
RFS passive RF components operate in all frequency bands from 555 MHz to 6 GHz and provide optimal passive intermodulation (PIM) performance to reduce interference and support the highest throughput levels end-to-end. Our comprehensive portfolio includes all components required for an end-to-end, 5G-ready distributed antennas system, including: combiners, hybrid combiners and couplers, directional couplers, diplexers and triplexers, power splitters, loads and attenuators.
CELLFLEX® Coaxial Cables and Jumpers
RFS CELLFLEX coaxial cables and jumpers combine industry-leading electrical performance with remarkable flexibility and strength. These premium attenuation, low-loss cables support all frequencies from low MHz ranges to 6 GHz, and are available in 20 models ranging from 1/4-inch to 1 5/8-inch in diameter. The CELLFLEX portfolio also includes CELLFLEX Lite, lighter weight coaxial cables that are ideal when fluctuating copper prices rise and in areas where copper theft is an issue.
References
Louvre Abu Dhabi
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 2017
At the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi, the only museum in the world with a floating dome roof, RFS is helping visitors enjoy high-capacity mobile coverage while visiting the architectural wonder. With RFS’ specialized MIMO solution and innovative installation techniques for cable splitters, couplers and antennas, the museum can offer seamless coverage throughout the monumental building with no impact to its famed “rays of light” ceiling.
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