Westell Raises the Bar with the Introduction of its New Distributed Antenna System (DAS) Interface Panels

Westell DAS Panels offer significant performance and ease-of-use improvements over current offerings

AURORA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL)(“Westell”), a leading provider of telecommunications equipment for wireline, wireless and home networks, today announced that it has begun production shipments of its Distributed Antenna System (DAS) Interface Panels.

Distributed Antenna Systems are increasingly being used by wireless service providers to create a small cell infrastructure that relieves the burden on the macro network, especially in venues such as stadiums, convention centers, hospitals and college campuses where smartphone use is particularly concentrated. Westell’s DAS Interface Panels are located between the base transceiver station (BTS) and the headend of the DAS. For maximum wireless coverage and throughput, carriers must ensure the RF power levels are appropriately adjusted for the DAS headend equipment. Westell’s DAS Interface Panels provide the proper power levels for the downstream DAS equipment. Both transmit and receive power levels can be monitored and adjusted without disconnecting from the BTS or the DAS headend.

“We are seeing the wireless carriers allocate more budget toward DAS and other small cell solutions to alleviate the capacity and access issues in their mobile networks,” said Chris Shaver, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Westell Technologies. “We found an ideal opportunity to enter the wireless carrier market with our DAS Interface Panels. This product line leverages our expertise in designing and delivering reliable carrier-class products that stand the test of time. We have delivered a high-performance line of panels that surpasses the leading competition in this space.”

Westell’s DAS Interface Panels provide a range of 0-50dB of adjustable attenuation and they are capable of handling up to 80 watts of input power into a single port from the BTS. The panels have ultra-low levels of passive intermodulation distortion (PIM), ensuring minimal interference and improved performance of the BTS. Westell’s panels offer ease-of-use advantages as well, including input/output connectors located at the edge of the panel for ease in cabling. The models are lightweight and available in 1RU or 2RU heights, providing vertical space savings compared to the competition. At the same time, the units are temperature hardened, with an operating range of -40 to +65°C, to address both indoor and outdoor DAS installations.

Westell is offering four models of DAS Interface Panel to cover the cellular band, the PCS band, the 700MHz band and the AWS band. Additional information is available at: http://www.westell.com/products/das-interface-panels.

About Westell

Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of carrier-class communications equipment, including digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution and demarcation products used by wireline and wireless telecommunications service providers, industrial customers, and home network users. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.westell.com.

Westell Technologies, Inc.
Brian Cooper
Chief Financial Officer
630.375.4740
bcooper@westell.com

Source: Westell Technologies, Inc.

Released March 26, 2012