5G is Coming! Is Your Building Ready for 2020?

Out of necessity, real estate owners and managers focus on physical plants and visible assets. Now, more than ever, there’s an invisible asset to consider. This asset is your in-building broadband connectivity and its powerful radio waves that connect people, places and things at lightning speed.

Of course, it’s not always easy to offer the desired seamless wireless connectivity as expectations rise. There’s the proliferation of mobile devices and the soaring demand for HD streaming. There's also virtual and augmented reality as well as the explosion in the Internet of Things (IoT).

For many, private networks featuring 5G, Wi-Fi and/or CBRS are the answer. 5G and other emerging technologies represent nothing less than a paradigm shift in wireless communications. The arrival of 5G fills some with anticipation and others with dread. Embrace the right technologies at the right pace. Get out ahead of this transformational moment and revel in the excitement of it all.

Broadband a Necessity

Today, broadband connectivity is the “fourth utility.” What was once a luxury is now an absolute necessity.

Still, connectivity lags in many venues. According to a Wired Score study, more than 80 percent of businesses suffer from internet connectivity issues. Survey respondents weighed in on workspace selection priorities during the next ten years. They deemed connectivity more important (92%) than location (89%) or price (88%). The choice is stark. Deliver high-quality, high-capacity wireless connectivity or lose prospective tenants to the competition.

Ideally, you want your in-building system to seamlessly accommodate future tech. You want layers of technology that complement one another rather than compete against one another. Put another way, you want integrated, rather than non-converged network layers.

Commercial real estate owners and property managers seek state-of-the-art communications for good reason. A private in-building network can:

  • Eliminate carrier dependence
  • Allow for customized applications
  • Provide tenant-specific security
  • Offer new revenue streams like higher rents

Times have certainly changed for in-building wireless. The large tier-one operators no longer hold the keys to the wireless ecosystem. As a result, there is no better moment than the beginning of a new decade to embrace the very best that in-building wireless now offers. Take time now to contemplate future wireless connectivity needs in your building.

Key Questions

To say that information about 5G is ubiquitous is an understatement. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find information - and misinformation - about this revolutionary new technology. Is 5G the panacea to current and future connectivity challenges? Yes, but it is not an absolute cure-all. Future in-building wireless networks will often feature elements of low-latency 5G, neutral-host CBRS and upgraded Wi-Fi.

To analyze your specific situation vis-a-vis 5G and other emerging technologies, consider these three questions.

Is your infrastructure ready to accommodate new technology?

Traditional DAS (with coax cabling) handles many of today’s needs, including 4G, 5G <6GHz, public safety and CBRS. However, fiber-to-the-edge (with structured cabling) also addresses WiFi, IoT, 5G beyond 6GHz and 4K-CCTV. Think of fiber-to-the-edge as the backbone of a scalable, modern communications system.

What are your current and future needs for wireless connectivity?

Many things drive the need for increased wireless capacity. Smart building initiatives, virtual reality, augmented reality and updated public safety requirements are some examples. Carefully analyze the unique needs of your specific mix of tenants, workers and visitors.

What combination of technologies will best address those needs?

Once you’ve defined current and future needs, it’s time to match them to available and emerging tech. Approach the question in a fluid, open-minded way. You want to be aware of ALL the options. Thanks to innovation, it is already possible to improve networks while reducing costs per square foot. The key is having scalable in-building wireless. In the future, new disruptive technologies will inevitably transform in-building wireless in unexpected ways. Fiber-to-the-edge puts you in a position to take advantage of the exciting products, applications and end-user devices yet to come.

Learn More Today

Learn more about the specifics of today’s in-building wireless connectivity options. Join SOLiD and Connectivity Wireless's Nadir Famili, SVP Technology Planning & Development. The discussion will cover both the evolution of commercial wireless and emerging wireless solutions. Check out the webinar today.