Our daily dependence on mobile devices has become a part of our modern essentials like water, gas and electricity. It's our internet, email, personal computing, camera, video recorder, social media, TV, movie, music, maps, calendar, book reader, podcast, gaming, apps, and of course, our talk & text.
This "fourth utility" marks a new generation the way radio, cars, and refrigeration changed mankind's destiny. But as with any emerging shift, there are always some speedbumps.
Poor cellular reception affects everyone. With the growing demand for faster speeds and more IoT (Internet of Things) devices, having quality cellular service at all times is an absolute requirement for work efficiency and satisfaction.
Are people complaining about poor cellular coverage indoors?
Does it hamper workflow & productivity?
Are people getting near a window or going outside to make a call?
Are these liability issues (such as no signal in an elevator or stairwell)?
Stronger signals lead to better service, reliable connections, faster data, and always-on dependability. The need for seamless and robust wireless coverage is critical for workers to be efficient and visitors to be satisfied.
An in-building wireless (IBW) system is a growing solution for many businesses to improve their wireless communication infrastructure.
It provides augmented & ubiquitous network coverage for all mobile devices. It remedies the causes & problems of poor in-building cellular service. Whether in an urban or rural area, getting poor signal because of cell tower distance or building material, IBW systems provide constant, reliable network coverage with no interruption to work, entertainment, and/or emergencies.
IBW systems are scalable, able to serve small commercial buildings & SMBs (small medium businesses) to large venues such as stadiums, airports, and convention centers.
The most ubiquitous solution for IBW coverage, WiFi is the front-runner for providing wireless connectivity for enterprises.
Service is provided by an ISP (internet service provider) such as Comcast/Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, and AT&T's Uverse.
Signal source for WiFi is introduced by a fiber optic or copper wire, then distributed by a wireless router. Typical speeds range from 50 Mbps to 1Gbps depending on the provider's plans.
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A distributed antenna system (DAS) is the most common type of IBW system for improved coverage and capacity. Designed by networking a series of indoor antennas, it provides the strength of outdoor macro networks but deployed indoors for users.
This leads to the highest quality of in-building coverage and service. The unique value in DAS is its scalability and versatility. DAS solutions are able to expand to accommodate future building expansions and options, therefore, keeping costs low should an upgrade be needed.
Active DAS provides boosted 3G & 4G LTE cellular coverage for buildings over 500K sq. ft.
Active DAS works by directly connecting to carrier networks. Signal is converted from analog to digital and carried through fiber optic to maintain signal integrity regardless of cable run and coverage area.
Active DAS is best-in-class in terms of signal boosting and coverage range. However, permission to connect to the carrier network is often a long bureaucratic process. This may extend deployment time from conception to completion with a range of several months up to 2 years.
No building is ever the same, so no IBW solution is also the same.
Best for environments over 500K sq. ft. needing wall-to-wall coverage. Carriers will assist in the operating costs of the equipment only if the amount of subscribers onsite justify the investment.
Deployment time is long from several months to 2 years, because of the bureaucratic process of getting carrier permission to connect to their networks. When not assisted by a carrier, expenses are very high for the building owner & operator.
Best for environments under 100K sq. ft. needing spot coverage for priority areas. However, multiple units can be used to increase coverage up to 500K sq. ft.
Deployment time is fast from several days to weeks. It is cost-effective with under $1 per sq. ft. compared to the $5-10 per sq. ft. of active DAS. However, because it is dependent on off-air donor sites like cell towers, coverage quality isn't as robust as active DAS.
An emerging solution for small and medium-sized buildings.
Until multi-carrier small cells are accepted by carriers, it's best to wait or look into the other DAS solutions.
There is no "one-size-fits-all" IBW system.
A full deployment from consultation, measurement, recommendation, installation, and post-support is a complicated process. RF signals are much like the wind and waves. Shaping such irregular signals is as much as a craft as it is technical.
At Signal Boosters, our team consists of industry telecom veterans who have formerly worked at AT&T and Sprint as well as some of the most skilled system integration teams across America.
Our motto: Provide solutions, not boxes.
This means we keep our service brand-agnostic with no upsells and sales jargon. We serve our clients 110% of the time, period.
If you have any questions or comments about improving your wireless in-building signal, we'll be honored to help, and share our insights to enhance your experience.
