Intelligent Investment
Optimizing In-Building Cell Coverage
Why Property Owners Should Prioritize Optimization of in-building Cellular Coverage for Tenants & How to Evaluate Various Market Solutions
June 26, 2024 5 Minute Read
Reliance on mobile devices is at an all-time high, and seamless connectivity has become a necessity. Inadequate cell coverage in a building can lead to tenant frustrations over dropped calls and slow data speeds, while jeopardizing property owners’ competitive positioning.
Cell phone usage in the workplace has risen in recent years, due in part to increased adoption of hybrid work policies, shifts in workplace behaviors and evolving workplace designs. This change reflects the growing reliance on mobile technology for communication and employee effectiveness.
CBRE’s Global Workplace Occupancy Insights Report found that in 2023, 93% of workplace policies offered some level of hybrid work. Blending remote and in-office work has driven a surge in cell phone usage because employees rely on mobile devices to collaborate, stay connected with teams and clients and manage workloads across multiple environments. The same survey also found that since 2021, organizations have decreased private space within office layouts by an average of 19%, meaning employees are less likely to have a closed office area with a dedicated office line.
As cellular devices become indispensable tools in today’s shifting workplace environment, subpar service can pose significant challenges for occupiers. With more than 80% of cellular data sessions originating or terminating within building confines, owners should prioritize comprehensive coverage within their properties. By properly addressing in-building wireless systems, owners can improve existing tenant experiences, increase retention and remain competitive in attracting new tenants.
What Causes Poor In-Building Cell Coverage?
Several underlying factors can contribute to sub-par in-building cell coverage.
Some energy-efficient, or low-emissivity (Low-E) glass windows, particularly those with multiple layers of glass and specialized coatings to block unwanted heat, can inadvertently interfere with cellular signals. The same metallic coatings applied to windows during manufacturing to block UV rays can also reflect or scatter the signals cellular networks use to transmit voice and data. The result? Limited cell signal strength inside the building.
Commonly used construction materials such as thick concrete, metal beams and masonry walls can reduce the intensity of cellular signals inside a building, especially if materials contain metal reinforcements. Electrical equipment within a building can also create interference that can disrupt performance.
Tall office buildings can encounter signal degradation on higher floors, especially beyond the eighth or ninth floor. Weaker cell signal becomes more noticeable as you ascend a building, due to factors such as obstruction from other neighboring buildings and increased distance to cellular towers. As a result, tenants on the top floor may experience significantly different coverage compared to those on the first floor.
Technology is continually evolving. Older connectivity systems designed to amplify signals within a building may be insufficient for modern cellular networks or have compatibility issues with newer wireless standards.
Measuring Existing In-Building Cell Coverage
Optimizing in-building cellular coverage begins with a clear understanding of the current connectivity profile. To measure mobile coverage, specialized equipment and software can be used to detect signal strength from different providers at various locations inside the building. Certain metrics, such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), can provide value insights into how well mobile devices are receiving cell signals. More advanced tools can also predict coverage based on a building's unique layout and materials, helping to pinpoint areas where the signal might be weak. Owners may also find it beneficial to gather feedback from building occupants to better understand their day-to-day experience with cell coverage and performance.
Signal strength can slowly deteriorate over time. Consider measuring coverage on an ongoing basis to understand how needs are being met and identify issues before they negatively impact renewals or building competitiveness.
Common Misconceptions
When assessing a property’s cell signal, it's important to note that the strength of coverage can vary significantly among cellular providers and vary across locations within the same building. Therefore, it’s advisable to evaluate coverage in various locations, and take measurements for each major provider. Additionally, when addressing in-building connectivity, owners should recognize the general differences between Wi-Fi and in-building cellular solutions. Although both technologies aim to enhance connectivity for tenants, Wi-Fi and cellular networks operate on different frequencies. Strong Wi-Fi can complement cell coverage but cannot completely replace it.
Solutions to Enhance In-Building Cell Coverage
Property owners have several solutions at their disposal to enhance in-building cell coverage. If the objective is to improve targeted coverage in a specific area, such as a compact outdoor area, deploying a small-cell solution could be a cost-effective option. Small cells are low-powered cellular radio access nodes that enhance network performance. When deployed outside, small cells can be placed on building exteriors, utility poles or rooftops; however, placement requires coordination with local authorities for permitting approval. Small cells can also be deployed indoors to solve for network capacity issues that might arise during high-volume periods or to extend coverage into hard-to-reach areas.
On the other hand, if a property requires uniform coverage across an expansive indoor space, the implementation of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is a far more appropriate choice. Broadly speaking, DAS solutions fall into two categories, conventional DAS and DAS as a Service (DaaS).
DAS solutions deliver strong indoor cellular signals, enhancing mobile connectivity for tenants and guests within the building. Conventional DAS solutions are leased or purchased outright and typically involve sizable CapEx for the owner. Alternatively, DaaS is owned and operated by the provider and paid for by the property owner as a monthly operating expense. The two solutions differ on install time, as well as how quickly they can become operational for major network providers such as Verizon or T-Mobile. Conventional DAS requires larger and more robust infrastructure, which typically takes significantly longer to install. Additionally, with conventional DAS, network carrier agreements are signed one by one as needed, whereas with DaaS, multiple cell carriers can be activated day one.
Evaluating the Differences between DAS as a Service and Conventional DAS
We have seen a growing need for supplementary cell coverage, especially in office buildings within dense urban markets. Making sense of all the solutions to address cell coverage, not to mention working with providers on install, can be challenging. We take a look at a client’s specific situation, advise on the best option and help ensure a smooth implementation. Properly addressing in-building coverage is really a win-win for owners and occupiers.
Prioritizing In-Building Wireless Solutions
Evolving workplace dynamics underscore the essential need for property owners to prioritize cell coverage within their buildings. Delivering environments equipped with reliable cell coverage has evolved from being a nice-to-have amenity to an essential requirement. By addressing the issue of in-building connectivity, property owners can improve tenant experience, increase the overall value and attractiveness of a property and directly contribute to higher net operating income.
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Contacts
Michael Kane
Vice President Owner and Investor Services, Network Advisory Services
John Pomposello
Senior Vice President, Network Advisory Services
