How to choose the right indoor mobile signal partner

By Brendan Hourihane, Senior Director Enterprise and Real Estate

Having worked in the indoor mobile signal business for more than 15 years, and being personally involved in connecting over a thousand buildings, I think I must have been asked every question possible by customers! But if you’re just beginning to look at the options for improving mobile signal indoors it can be pretty confusing. There are lots of things to consider to make sure you get the connectivity that’s right for your needs, and that what was sold to you is what you’re delivered. So I’ve put together a cheat sheet of questions to ask potential suppliers if you’re investigating indoor mobile connectivity for the first time.????

1.????What are my options for indoor mobile signal?

If you’ve already had a brief look around, you’ll have seen that there are several options for bringing mobile network into a building. Generally, if you need connectivity across a very large, complex building, such as a skyscraper, stadium, arena or airport, you’ll be looking at a distributed antenna system (DAS).

For smaller commercial buildings and premium residential properties, small cells are likely to be more appropriate. Both these options come with a guaranteed quality of service as they connect directly with mobile network operators’ (MNOs’) core network.

2.????Which MNOs can you deliver?

The MNOs only allow the partners that they trust to have access to their core networks. Depending on your needs, you might just need one MNO connected, or you might need all four. So make sure that the supplier you’re speaking to is willing to contractually guarantee the delivery of the networks you need. Otherwise, you might end up with equipment purchased and installed, but missing some of the network that you need.

We were the first company trusted by all four MNOs to deliver in-building connectivity via a managed small cell solution. And with more than 2,000 buildings connected, many of them to multiple MNOs, you know you’re in safe hands.?

3.????Do you have the right experience?

There’s nothing like speaking to your potential supplier’s other customers to find out what they’re like to work with and to make sure they have the right experience. We often give potential new customers tours of sites we’ve deployed and now manage, whether that’s the City’s highest skyscraper 22 Bishopsgate, some of flexible office provider Workspace’s sites, or the NHS’s Grange University Hospital.

4.????How long until my system is up and running??

This is somewhat dependent on the MNOs, but on average for small cells it’s around 1-4 months from purchase to the system going live. With a DAS, because of the size of the sites that these are usually associated with, it’s in the region of 9-12 months.

5.????What happens when the technology changes??

We all know that technology changes and moves on. You’ve probably heard that the MNOs have confirmed that they are switching off 2G and 3G outdoor networks, although the exact dates for each vary by operator. But did you know that they’re shutting off indoor 3G services earlier than the rest of their network? This means that unless a 3G in-building system is upgraded to 4G before the shutdown (the precise dates of which vary by operator again), the system will no longer work. We’re currently working with all our customers to make sure they’re not surprised when the 3G services are switched off. We also cable our systems with extra infrastructure so that the cabling doesn’t need to be replicated when technology advances. Make sure your potential supplier does the same.

6.????How do you support and maintain the service?

We provide a complete managed service and guarantee the quality of service through our service level agreements (SLAs), offering service credits should the SLA not be met. Make sure that whoever you’re buying from has something similar in place.

If your building is a mobile signal dead zone and you’d like to fix that with assured connectivity, get in touch on [email protected]. Or to learn more, check out www.freshwavegroup.com.??