Seven Tips to Improve In-Building Mobile Coverage
If you hear complaints from tenants about cellular service in your building, you are not alone. More than 60% of property and facility management executives have had the same experience, and more than 80% say that prospective tenants ask about a building’s mobile service quality. You might recognize a few of these challenges to providing reliable service.
| # | Challenge | Tip |
| 1 | My building is working against me: sound absorption measures, LEED materials, and design improvements are blocking cellular signals.
|
Deploy inside-to-inside coverage technology, positioning antennas to provide service in the hardest-to-reach areas. |
| 2 | Every Wednesday, our coverage gets worse: usage peaks, so coverage and capacity drop. | Engineer the system to peak usage. |
| 3 | We want to look upscale: visible IT equipment and people pooling outside to make calls don’t fit our image. | Invest in technology that meets the tenant need and can be completely hidden or cleverly disguised. |
| 4 | We’re facility and IT pros, not RF engineers: many cellular systems require complex installations, coax installation, and ongoing tech support. | Opt for technology that is as easy as Wi-Fi and shares the same or improved technology with other devices in the building. |
| 5. | Here today, gone tomorrow: we hear all the time about the next greatest thing. Should we wait or go ahead and take a chance on obsolescence? | Choose manufacturers that have a history of technology innovation and a modular system that can scale with you. |
| 6. | We need to get bandwidth in and out of our building: the access and backhaul pathways are equally important. | Use a fiber-based technology as a foundation to give you confidence that current and future needs will be met. |
| 7. | We are overwhelmed: it sounds great, but we don’t have the people or experience to pull it off. | Work with a partner that has a history of meeting complex cellular challenges, has existing industry relationships, and keeps it simple for you. |
Overcoming communication challenges goes a long way toward creating a positive tenant experience and the loyalty that goes with it. SOLiD specializes in cost-effective solutions that deliver the robust service tenants need, with the equipment tucked nicely into available spaces. Moves and changes are easy with SOLiD’s modular technology.
You have in-building communication challenges? SOLiD has solutions. Call at (888) 409-9997 or email us at info@SOLID.com and let us help you overcome your in-building mobile challenges.
Choosing the Right Wireless Partner: Who Are You Inviting to the Dance?
Third in a 3-part series
Missteps are always possible in a dynamic, ever-changing wireless environment. Consequently, decision-makers need to get all the facts. It is vital to understand all the options. For both savings and efficiency, you want to choose the right wireless partner.
There are ways to avoid costly missteps when deploying your in-building wireless solutions . Enterprises know the sting of being stuck with legacy tech that is inefficient and costly to maintain. Premature obsolescence is expensive. Whenever possible, select a provider offering modular solutions that scale as you grow. Modularity allows for incremental expansion of your wireless infrastructure, whatever the future brings.
Selecting the Right Vendor: Do's and Don'ts
The ideal wireless partner meets your needs without bias or limitation. Multi-carrier wireless solutions reduce redundant network layers. You can identify a single vendor capable of delivering a complete turnkey solution that addresses all of your in-building wireless issues. Or, you might use multiple specialists to address your needs.
Wireless carriers install and maintain mobile networks. However, they only make in-building investments in the largest and most heavily trafficked venues. It is not cost-effective for them to do otherwise. Neutral-host, third-party owners fill the void, delivering turnkey, in-building wireless connectivity where carriers do not. Neutral-host distributed antenna systems (DAS) are a common choice in large office buildings. Third-party owners typically use a monthly recurring revenue model with or without an upfront capital expenditure.
DAS integrators also provide everything needed for a turnkey system. These services include RF benchmarking, site survey, design, installation, testing, and commissioning. Once the system is up and running, the DAS integrator offers monitoring and maintenance. You own the system.
As you compare providers, consider costs, funding models, and your level of control. Certain advantages accrue when building owners assume responsibility for in-building wireless. Or, they may prefer to offload these tasks to third-party providers.
Addressing In-building Wireless Needs: A Systematic Approach
Wireless technology is always changing, and demand is increasing. In a competitive business climate, complacency is not an option. At the same time, the bewildering array of choices may leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Take a step-by-step approach to simplify the task at hand. As the saying goes, every journey begins with a single step:
- Needs assessment
- Gauge future demand
- Compare options vis-a-vis cost and efficiency
- Select vendor(s)
- Regularly evaluate and watch for new developments
Needs assessment
A comprehensive needs assessment is the first step. Make informed decisions about the mix of wireless technologies to embrace. There are various technologies available to solve in-building connectivity issues.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What is your existing fiber/cable infrastructure?
- Do you need building-wide coverage to meet cellular and public safety requirements?
- Where is the additional capacity required to meet demand? (i.e., conference centers, meeting rooms)
- What are your aesthetic requirements?
- Which mobile carriers' services are needed?
- What frequency bands do you require?
- What support do you need for future IoT requirements?
It is essential that you consider both current and future needs every step of the way.
Site survey & system design
The site survey includes a review of floor plans and a site walk to assess wall materials, available antenna locations, and cable pathways. It also features testing the current RF signal levels and quality. RF interference, low-E glass, steel beams, and concrete are typical challenges. These assessments enable you to make informed economic decisions about the nature and scope of the solution, and the DAS design engineers to economically meet your objectives while satisfying the requirements of the mobile network operators.
System installation
Identify the most efficient, cost-effective option for your in-building upgrade. Proceed with installation.
- Confirm the new system design complies with the requirements of mobile operators
- Draft agreements with mobile operators regarding the re-transmission of in-building RF signals
- Use the site survey and system design plans to install fiber/cable, DAS head-end, and remotes
- Commission the system, integrate the service providers' signal sources and verify operations and monitoring capabilities
Follow these steps, and you'll get the wireless solution you need now. You'll also get one that is scalable in the future.
System monitoring and maintenance
System integrators and third-party owners provide monitoring and maintenance services. Changes to the outdoor network may affect performance in the indoor network. Proactive monitoring and maintenance protect your in-building connectivity investment, and many potential problems may be diagnosed and resolved with remote access to reduce costs and disruption caused by technicians coming to your venue. A service agreement frees you to attend to your essential responsibilities.
Summary
Reliable, 24/7 in-building wireless is a "must-have" for most enterprises. HD streaming, increased use of mobile devices, public safety requirements, and the IoT are just some of the forces driving demand. Seamless coverage at expected speeds drives worker productivity and enhances visitor satisfaction. The task seems daunting at first, but with the right partner, project success becomes the reward. All stakeholders benefit when there's a state-of-the-art wireless solution in place.
SOLiD: Your Trusted Advisor
Count on SOLiD to be the voice of clarity in today's rapidly evolving wireless environment. Our team will demonstrate how to develop a simple, affordable in-building wireless solution customized for your unique situation. Join the many hospitals, property managers, universities, and Fortune 500 companies who already trust us.
To learn more about solving your connectivity concerns, connect with us today.
Weary of Wireless Woes? Choose the Right Options for Savings and Efficiency
Second in a 3-part series
Today's expanding mobile-use raises expectations for fast, seamless connectivity. Still, priorities vary from venue to venue. Is your primary goal worker productivity, visitor convenience, public safety, or all the above?
Wireless connectivity woes grab the attention of building owners, managers, and other stakeholders. Workers and guests don't like dropped calls, slow downloads, and other shortcomings.
Most of the increase in mobile traffic is indoors. About 80 percent of data traffic occurs indoors. At the same time, smart buildings rely on a rapidly evolving Internet of Things (IoT). One source estimates the global smart building market size is projected to reach US$109 billion by 2026, with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 12.6%.
The Proliferation of Wireless Tech
The rapid evolution of wireless connectivity options confounds many. Do you feel overwhelmed by all the choices? Are you unsure of what is right for your organization today and tomorrow? Certainly, you are not alone.
The arrival of 5G and CBRS really spice up the mix. CBRS-based private networks offer building owners/managers new control over their in-building wireless services. At the same time, 5G deployments present new challenges. Deloitte observes that 5G's millimeter bands tend to "have limited range and lower penetration." This requires special accommodations in office buildings. 5G remains a nascent technology requiring specialized phones and equipment. As Deloitte says, "In reality, 5G is very much in the "build" phase right now." Still, Gartner projects 5G network infrastructure revenues of $4.2 billion, a year-over-year increase of 89 percent.
Seeking the Ideal Solutions
Astute stakeholders seek timely, simple, and affordable in-building wireless solutions in office buildings, hospitals, universities, and corporate headquarters. Those in charge seek wireless solutions delivering excellent ROI and simple scalability.
Every surfer wants to ride the best wave. Jumping on the board too early or too late doesn't work. The same is true with in-building wireless connectivity. When it comes to delivering exceptional service, you want to select the right wave. Time your move based on solid due diligence. The best wireless solutions offer both savings and efficiency. Building owners and managers that meet user expectations seize a competitive edge.
Picking the Right Options
Your venue's perfect mid-point lies somewhere between future-ready and overkill. To address wireless demand, building owners/managers have many options.
Distributed antenna systems (DAS)
A distributed antenna system (DAS) features antennas and amplifiers strategically positioned throughout a structure to provide continuous edge connectivity. DAS provides multi-carrier service, reliable signals, and robust capacity scaled to your needs. Your long-term cost of ownership benefits from the excellent scalability and upgradeability of DAS.
DAS is often an ideal solution when there is a high volume of users in large buildings exceeding 100,000 sqft in size. A scaleable direct connection to cellular networks prevents overloading. DAS delivers seamless, reliable in-building connectivity without undue expense or excess complexity.
Ideal DAS solutions are:
- Fiber-based -- Fiber does not become obsolete, and it offers virtually unlimited bandwidth to support applications today as well as tomorrow.
- Full-spectrum -- You want to minimize hardware costs. Therefore, employ a DAS solution that supports the full range of cellular and public safety frequencies.
- Ready for tomorrow -- You'll want a system that allows you to add new frequencies in the future. Modular systems invariably improve ROI.
Signal repeaters/boosters
Cellular signal boosters are network extenders that provide coverage but do not add capacity. A booster captures an outside signal, amplifies it, and transmits it. Signal boosters work across all radio frequencies used by the major cellular providers.
Small cells
Small cells are nodes strategically positioned throughout a structure. They deliver a reliable cellular signal in places where the signal was weak or non-existent. They do not support multiple carriers operating at various frequencies. In the workplace, BYOD devices present a problem. To accommodate mobile devices using various networks, you will need multiple layers of small cell equipment, increasing capital, and installation costs.
Small cells resolve capacity and coverage issues in smaller office buildings. They create hotspots where coverage is otherwise lacking or insufficient. The limitation is that they are carrier-specific.
Wi-Fi solutions
Now, Wi-Fi 6 enters the picture. The Wireless Alliance designates qualifying equipment as Wi-Fi Certified 6. The next-gen standard delivers higher data rates, increased capacity, and improved power efficiency. It performs well in settings where many devices are simultaneously connected.
Users remain connected to the Wi-Fi network as they move about within the building's wireless local area network (WLAN) coverage area. However, coverage ends as the user exits the building. By contrast, a cellular network delivers direct internet access as the mobile user transitions from indoors to outdoors or vice versa.
Wi-Fi and cellular coverage are not an either-or proposition. They complement each other. The business and consumer demand for bandwidth is great and increasing by the day with no end in sight. The amount of bandwidth provided by cellular networks greatly exceeds the bandwidth available for use by Wi-Fi. In the years ahead, a large amount of additional spectrum will be specified for use by both Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Planning for Indoor Wireless: Today & Tomorrow
There is little doubt that future demand for indoor wireless will grow, but at what pace? What surprises lie just around the corner? Whenever possible, avoid the plague of repeated retrofitting. For many, the best wireless solutions are those that are eminently scalable.
Due diligence is vital in achieving the desired balance between savings and efficiency.
SOLiD: Your Trusted Advisor
Count on SOLiD to be the voice of clarity in the ever-changing world of wireless connectivity. Learn more about solving your connectivity issues. Learn more about the latest technologies.
In-Building Wireless Coverage Solutions
First in a 3-part series
Today, everyone expects fast, reliable wireless service both indoors and outdoors, whether it’s for personal use, business applications, or to meet the needs of first responders and public safety personnel.
Looking to the future, an array of new mobile devices – like 5G-capable smartphones, wearables, and Internet of Things (IoT) smart devices – will also require connectivity and increase expectations for quality wireless service everywhere.
For building owners and managers, addressing this soaring demand for wireless capacity requires prompt, smart decisions. Every in-building environment is different, with its own set of challenges. As competing solutions vie for attention, it can be hard to know which one is best for your property.
Wireless Terminology
To help you get started, SOLiD offers this primer to understand standard industry terms and wireless connectivity solutions.
Outdoor Cell Site
Every mobile carrier – Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc. – builds outdoor cell sites, typically referred to as “macrocells,” to provide cellular coverage for their subscribers. These sites include antennas, a base station receiver, transmitters, GPS, and backup power.
The equipment reliably transmits signals to and from mobile devices in the area. Antennas can be attached to a cell tower placed on a rooftop.
The typical coverage area for a macrocell is up to three miles. Often, multiple carriers and public safety agencies will share a macrocell site to serve their subscribers and support emergency services in the coverage area.
In dense urban areas, cellular equipment can also be placed on utility poles or other types of street furniture to provide service to high demand areas. The coverage range of these installations may be as small as a few hundred feet.
Often, the macrocells in a given area cannot provide adequate coverage for all of the connected devices. Plus, natural barriers – like hills and trees – or manufactured substances – such as concrete and glass – can block signals and degrade coverage, especially inside buildings. In these cases, several technologies can fill in coverage gaps. These include distributed antenna systems, repeaters, and small cells.
Distributed Antenna Systems
Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) operate both indoors and outdoors. DAS deployments began in the late 1980s. Today they are often found in large office buildings, hospitals, hotels, universities, airports, stadiums, and underground transit systems.
DAS solutions serve two essential purposes. First, they deliver cellular service indoors where signals from macrocells are weak or nonexistent. Second, they provide dedicated capacity in a building rather than sharing it with all of the subscribers covered by a cell tower. Each DAS is scaled to meet building occupancy and bandwidth demands.
A DAS features strategically-placed antennas throughout an indoor venue to expand and enhance wireless connectivity. The antennas connect to DAS remotes. Each remote connects via fiber optic cabling to a centralized headend. The headend aggregates and distributes signals between the service providers’ base stations and the DAS.
Signal Booster/Repeater
A cellular signal booster uses an antenna placed outside the building and an amplifier connected to indoor antennas to rebroadcast the mobile network inside the building.
Signal boosters have limitations. For example, they cannot sufficiently amplify weak signals and are typically used only for smaller coverage areas. Signal boosters are less common due to potential interference and capacity planning issues, and they can only improve signal levels but cannot increase capacity.
Small Cell
As the name implies, small cells are downsized versions of larger macrocell base stations. Their small size allows mobile carriers to install them in places closer to the end-user to improve signal reception and capacity. Small cells provide a smaller coverage area versus traditional macrocells, but they deliver signals to areas the macrocells can’t reach economically.
A small cell effectively addresses the needs of a modest number of individuals using a single carrier in a small space. By contrast, a DAS is a multi-carrier solution, potentially serving a large number of users throughout a large building or campus environment.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi provides a wireless data connection delivered via a router to the internet. Users remain connected as long as they move about within the wireless local area network. By contrast, a cellular network service – delivered by DAS, small cells, or repeaters – offers direct internet access and voice communications without a router throughout the mobile network.
Wi-Fi is a suitable low-cost solution to provide wireless internet access for many applications, but it is not a substitute for cellular mobility. Cellular networks also offer more capacity and superior security.
What is the Best Solution for your In-Building Connectivity Needs?
The best solution for your needs should be considered from a few different dimensions and discussed with a reputable solution provider. You will need to determine: is the site experiencing capacity or coverage deficiencies? Is the bandwidth demand static or dynamic? Is there a requirement to provide service for many or all of the wireless service providers? And what is the available budget?
SOLiD: Your Trusted Advisor
We hope you have come away with a basic understanding of the different solutions available today. Picking the right option for your particular needs will be further explored in the next blog post on this topic.
In a sea of seemingly endless wireless options, it is essential to zero in on what’s best for your organization both today and tomorrow. Trust SOLiD to help you better understand your options.
SOLiD has already delivered many thousands of DAS remotes around the world. Our DAS solutions consistently deliver the best price/power ratio. As you sort through your wireless options, count on SOLiD to be the voice of clarity.
Connect with us to learn more about solving your connectivity issues.
