A remote unit of a distributed antenna system includes: a transceiver configured to communicate RF signals between a master unit of the distributed antenna system and a terminal device, and receive downlink RF signals from a base station; and signal processing circuitry configured to provide downlink signals to the master unit. The remote unit receives instructions from a host unit of the distributed antenna system to establish a communication link with the base station in response to detecting a malfunction with respect to an additional communication link between the master unit and an additional base station.