Network Communications News (NCN) April 2017 | Page 41

KNOW HOW
‘The key to
effective
indoor mobile
coverage and
capacity is
far travelling,
uninterrupted
signal.’
f ra m e s a n d t re ate d g l a ss,
a l re a d y d o t h e i r b e st to b l o c k .
C o n si d e r i n g t h e t y p e s of u l t ra
h i g h sp e e d , 3 0 0 G b p e r se co n d
se r v i c e s w h i c h h ave b e e n
ta l ke d a b o u t fo r 5 G h oweve r, t h e
si t u at i o n i s so o n set to get fa r
m o re co mp l ex.
Operating at very high
frequencies (ie. 28 GHz), 5G’s
signal range will be extremely
short, meaning it will be more
easily interrupted by even the
most common building materials –
simple walls will be a problem, let
alone the more modern materials
discussed above.
Against this worrying backdrop,
we could be looking at taking a lot
more calls outside in the future –
but who should we be turning to
in order to avoid such potentially
costly ‘call out’ charges?
Insider networking
The answer to solving indoor
mobile coverage seems simple
enough – to put the network into
buildings via distributed antenna
systems (DAS) – thereby providing
consistent, unencumbered signal
to those inside.
And indeed thanks to recent
developments such as the use
of small cells, and innovations
which now enable the systems to
run off the existing connectivity
infrastructure (via Ethernet if
not fibre), and to be used for
other services (ie. PMR), modern
DAS solutions have become less
expensive, easier to use and more
cost effective.
But while this should have
made the business case for in-
building solutions far easier, the
industry – or more specifically
the operators – still seems to be
holding itself back.
them, and have we moved any
closer to a solution with recent
developments like MuLTEfire and
spectrum sharing?
Complex arrangements
T he key to ef fective ind o o r
mobi le covera ge a n d ca p a c it y
i s far travell in g, un inter r u pte d
si gnal – s o mething mo d e r n
bu i ldi ng materia l s , s uc h a s
metali s ed ins ul ation , ste e l
Compromised ownership
To understand the delayed uptake
of in-building solutions, you only
need to look at the business case
the UK’s operators are currently
faced with – pushed year-on-
year to both deliver more to their
customers while at the same
time having to continually reduce
their prices. Already up against
it, the option of operators funding
in-building solutions is simply no
longer viable.
There have been suggested
ways to lessen the cost for
operators – including through the
use of shared spectrum or a multi-
operator shared network (MOCN).
But while these are great in
theory, both unfortunately require
the collaboration of all the MNOs
– something that, at least in the
UK, shows no sign of being likely
to happen.
Meanwhile technologies such
as MuLTEfire and other unlicensed
solutions like LAA, which have also
been heralded as possible fixes,
face obstacles of a different kind.
For a start, any solution proposing
the use of unlicensed spectrum
will always be subject to potential
interference from other devices
operating in that spectrum and
there is no way for businesses to
control what those devices are –
just think about how many Wi-Fi
networks you see wherever you go.
While none of the barriers are
ones that can’t be overcome, with
no movement expected anytime
soon, the industry needs to look
elsewhere for a more immediate
solve to the issue of in-building
solution ownership.
A future proof solution
Though 5G technology has been
heralded as both evolutionary
and revolutionary, the escalated
pressure of 5G connectivity is
still a while off. Indeed, at Arqiva
we are predicting the availability
of commercial services no earlier
than 2020.
In-building solutions cannot
wait that long however. Across
the UK’s major urban cities –
including London, Manchester
and Birmingham – the problem
exists now. In the face of ever
growing demand, mobile capacity
is already stressed and alternative
solutions such as voice-over Wi-Fi
technology do not offer a realistic,
or long term solve – requiring the
latest handsets and individual
MNO cooperation.
Indoor coverage may be
difficult to prioritise for MNOs
but it is growing increasingly
essential and someone needs
to step up. Though retrofitting is
possible, the industry needs to
start incorporating in-building
solutions into the fabric of new
developments now.
April 2017 | 41