Our In-building solutions refer to technologies and strategies implemented within buildings to enhance wireless communication, improve connectivity, and address coverage and capacity issues. These solutions are particularly important in environments where traditional outdoor cellular signals may not adequately penetrate or provide reliable service, such as large buildings, underground facilities, stadiums, airports, and dense urban areas.
There are several types of in-building solutions commonly deployed:
- Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS): DAS involves distributing antennas throughout a building or facility to amplify and distribute cellular signals. It helps improve coverage and capacity by providing more evenly distributed signal strength.
- Small Cells: Small cells are low-powered cellular radio access nodes that are typically deployed indoors to provide localized coverage and capacity. They can be installed in various configurations, including standalone units or integrated into existing infrastructure like Wi-Fi access points.
- Wi-Fi: While not specifically a cellular technology, Wi-Fi networks are often used as complementary in-building solutions to offload cellular traffic and provide connectivity indoors. Wi-Fi networks can be enhanced with technologies like Wi-Fi calling to improve voice and data services.
- Femtocells: Femtocells are small, low-power cellular base stations designed for use in residential or small office environments. They connect to the operator’s network via broadband and provide improved coverage and capacity in a localized area.
- Repeaters/Signal Boosters: These devices capture and amplify existing cellular signals before rebroadcasting them to improve coverage within a building. They are relatively simple solutions but may have limitations in terms of scalability and interference.
- Active DAS vs. Passive DAS: Active DAS involves the use of fiber-optic cables and powered amplifiers to distribute signals, providing greater flexibility and scalability. Passive DAS, on the other hand, relies on coaxial cables and passive components like splitters and combiners to distribute signals, generally used in smaller installations.
In-building solutions are crucial for ensuring reliable wireless connectivity, supporting various applications ranging from voice calls to data-intensive tasks like streaming video and accessing cloud services. They are deployed across a wide range of environments to meet the growing demand for seamless wireless communication indoors.