HOUSTON—Billions of square feet in enterprise facilities go without a clear answer to better capacity from cellular services, at a time when the mobile device has become the workhorse of business and the social lifeline for consumers. In many cases, prospective tenants include cellular coverage and capacity as must haves, so much so that cell service has become known as the “fourth utility.”

Cris Kimbrough, managing director of CBRE telecom advisory services, was a featured keynote speaker at the annual HetNet Expo last month. In this keynote session, JMA Wireless, provider of in-building solutions, joined CBRE to provide insight and share perspectives of how technology is being re-factored to help meet the needs of this new frontier. The session explored some real life business case models and highlighted some actual enterprise venues.

The HetNet Forum is dedicated to the advancement of heterogeneous networks and is a membership section of the Wireless Infrastructure Association. HetNets provide increased network coverage, capacity and quality through the use of a variety of infrastructure and technology, enabling seamless voice and data communications.

“It can be difficult to find easy justification by the stakeholders that typically deliver more capacity to these buildings, but the industry can be good at finding ways to solve for these problems, enabling enterprise facilities of all forms to finally gain access to mobile cellular coverage and capacity for their business,” said Kimbrough.

There is a lot of tension between supply and demand in the in-building cellular space as carriers, integrators and equipment manufacturers seek ways to provide less expensive, streamlined solutions for enterprise to meet the growing need for in-building solutions, GlobeSt.com learns. A couple of issues emerge from this conundrum.

With current technology, alternatives to in-building cellular, such as WiFi calling, do not provide the seamless experience desired in enterprise spaces.

Bring your own device is driving the need for neutral-host systems in multi-tenant office space.

Lower-cost solutions that operate over existing IP networks may provide relief in some situations.

Property owners who fund in-building cellular systems are driving demand for base stations or other signal source from carriers.

It may be possible to create solutions, such as cloud radio access networks/CRAN, that increase the square footage provided by one base station. This has the potential to make properties attractive to the carriers, said Kimbrough.

With current technology, alternatives to in-building cellular, such as WiFi calling, do not provide the seamless experience desired in enterprise spaces.

Bring your own device is driving the need for neutral-host systems in multi-tenant office space.

Lower-cost solutions that operate over existing IP networks may provide relief in some situations.

Property owners who fund in-building cellular systems are driving demand for base stations or other signal source from carriers.

Instant Insights /

Cell Service Becomes Fourth Utility

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