New Abbotsford Law Courts: Enhancing Wireless Connectivity with a Cellular DAS
A Case Study
CUSTOMER
To accommodate the rapid growth of the Lower Fraser Valley, one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing regions, the Province of British Columbia invested $150 million in the construction of the new Abbotsford Law Courts (ALC). This state-of-the-art facility, which opened in 2021, serves as a key judicial hub, housing both the Provincial Court of BC and the Supreme Court of BC. Spanning 16,723 square meters, ALC features 14 courtrooms—eight for the Provincial Court, three for the Supreme Court, and three for judicial conferences. The facility also includes a basement, a 336-stall parkade, and LEED Gold certification.
CHALLENGE
Cartel was hired after the construction of the ALC building was completed because the customer determined that they only had cellular coverage for one Canadian wireless operator. Subcontracted by Plenary Group and Johnson Controls, Cartel was tasked with designing, supplying, installing, and commissioning a cellular DAS to provide coverage for a second Canadian wireless carrier, with the scalability and flexibility to support additional carriers in the future.
Additionally, Cartel observed that the building was constructed with materials such as concrete and Low-E glass throughout—these materials block cellular signal levels, resulting in virtually no signal to make calls, making it crucial to integrate a solution that met both technological and environmental standards. This became even more complicated in unique areas of the building where there are anti-ligature considerations as well as additional material reinforcement that causes further signal attenuation.
SOLUTION
Cartel engineered and deployed a high-performance, fibre-fed, digital DAS to deliver reliable cellular coverage across all levels of the Abbotsford Law Courts. The project began with a comprehensive RF assessment, during which a pre-installation coverage validation survey was conducted across all seven levels of the facility, including courtrooms, basement areas, and parking structures, to identify the current conditions and materials characteristics. Based on these findings, Cartel implemented a BTI Wireless CrossFire DAS, an advanced active, fibre-fed, digital cellular system designed to ensure seamless connectivity throughout the entire courthouse.
To support the system, Cartel installed 60 BTI N2RU active antennas strategically placed throughout the building, basement, and parkade. The deployment also included 3,500 meters of Corning composite fibre cabling, ensuring a strong and scalable connectivity infrastructure.
The fibre-fed architecture eliminated the need for an external donor antenna or off-air repeaters, enhanced system capacity, respected the wireless operator guidance, and reduced the potential impacts of the existing outdoor macro coverage.
The DAS was designed to support one major Canadian wireless provider, covering frequency bands of 850 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2600 MHz and is also capable of onboarding additional carriers when required.
As part of the commissioning process, Cartel performed a post-installation coverage validation survey to confirm that the system met performance expectations. Pre- and post-installation heat maps were generated to visually verify enhanced coverage distribution. Final testing confirmed that over 95% of the facility achieved the required cellular performance standards. To ensure ongoing support and reliability, Cartel provided a three-year Service Level Agreement (SLA), including an extended warranty, and delivered a comprehensive closeout package with a detailed commissioning report, system performance metrics, and validation results.
Like ALC, Cartel has extensive experience delivering wireless enhancement solutions for government agencies across Canada. By leveraging advanced technology and industry expertise, Cartel ensures seamless connectivity that meets operational, regulatory, and user demands. If your government facility requires reliable in-building cellular or public safety wireless coverage enhancement, contact Cartel today to discuss a tailored solution that enhances communication and operational efficiency.
Need a Distributed Antenna System?
DAS is our bread and butter. With over 30 years of experience deploying DAS, Cartel can provide a tailored, turnkey solution specific to your needs.
