A Different Kind Of Elevator Music

In-building wireless coverage used to be a luxury, but now it’s expected. Tenants and visitors expect seamless access to cellular networks both outdoors and inside.

As I’m walking to a meeting from the second level of a parking garage talking on my cell phone, I was impressed--the cellular service isn’t bad down here. I’m wondering whether the coverage is provided by a local tower close by or through a distributed antenna system (DAS). Now I’m curious about the coverage in the adjoining building….how good will that be? I need to contact a colleague and leave a short message before I head into my meeting, so I’m hoping the coverage inside is consistent.

Entering the building I see people on their cell phones in the lobby--that’s promising. Wait, one person is looking at his phone and moving toward the lobby windows. Not good. I check in with security and start to dial my colleague’s number before getting on the elevator. I hope there’s coverage in there. The doors close. I’m passing the second floor, now the third floor and then I hear a “hello” on the other end of the line--music to my ears!

Complete in-building wireless coverage used to be a luxury, but now it’s expected. Building owners are beginning to recognize that tenants and visitors expect seamless access to cellular networks both outdoors and inside. A well-designed in-building wireless system, or DAS, can be designed to augment the coverage and capacity offered by the outdoor cellular network. It should provide scalable, full-spectrum coverage of all of the carrier’s signals throughout the building or enterprise.

How was the cell service in the buildings you recently visited?