In-Building Coverage

[sashank19]

Recent studies have shown that a typical wireless customer places 40 percent of his or her calls indoors. A number of major U.S. carriers have acknowledged that improving the historically sub-par performance of in-building networks is one of the key challenges to bringing wireless service to the next level.

What engineering ideas or solutions can you suggest Wireless Carriers to increase its share of in-building networks coverage while demonstrating economic models that justify a Return on Investment (ROI)*?

[Bugwart]

Recent studies have shown that a typical wireless customer places 40 percent of his or her calls indoors. A number of major U.S. carriers have acknowledged that improving the historically sub-par performance of in-building networks is one of the key challenges to bringing wireless service to the next level.

What engineering ideas or solutions can you suggest Wireless Carriers to increase its share of in-building networks coverage while demonstrating economic models that justify a Return on Investment (ROI)*?

They can use the same methods that are used in other countries: microcells and repeaters.

S. Korea has EV-DO coverage in most public indoor and underground areas.

[ZaphodB]

Oh look, we're doing someone's homework for him again.

[kashkanantambu]

They can use the same methods that are used in other countries: microcells and repeaters.

S. Korea has EV-DO coverage in most public indoor and underground areas.

Though not that popular, these practicies are actually praticed here in the US as well.

At one of my job sites here in NYC the client's house has a T-Mobile network built in.

[bgsales]

I read something not too long ago about Verizon using repeater sites inside the subway tunnels in NYC....

The wal-mart in glasgow kentucky that sells cingular at their connection center had no cingular coverage at all what so ever, so they built a repeater system within the store...

the wal mart in russellville ky uses a yagi antenna to Boost signal for cellular within their store, that antenna is owned by bluegrass cellular...

[TurboDan]

I read something not too long ago about Verizon using repeater sites inside the subway tunnels in NYC....

There is no service in subway tunnels in NYC whatsoever right now, except for literally a couple of tunnels that are wired with Nextel service and a couple other wired with Verizon. Keep in mind that I live in NYC, have had BOTH Verizon AND Nextel, and I have NEVER once gotten a signal in ANY subway tunnel. For intents and purposes, there is NO network underground in NYC.

Verizon has a contract with Amtrak to provide service in commuter rail tunnels from Penn Station, and Cingular has an equivalent contract for commuter rail tunnels for trains originating from Grand Central Terminal.

For traffic tunnels, the Queens-Midtown tunnel was the first to have service from Verizon in 1995. In 1999, the two huge Lincoln and Holland tunnels (controlled by the Port Authority, NOT NYC or NYS) has had a contract with a technology consortium to provide service for EVERY major protocol, whether iDen, CDMA, or GSM.

The state is now soliciting bids from major wireless providers to build a network in the subway system. The winner will build the system at their own cost and must provide service for other providers as well. However, the benefit to the winner of the contract is that they will be allowed to charge a roaming fee to any other provider's customers. With NYC being such an international city, the smartest thing would be to allow Cingular to build a GSM system, in my opinion.

[bobolito]

In 1999, the two huge Lincoln and Holland tunnels (controlled by the Port Authority, NOT NYC or NYS) has had a contract with a technology consortium to provide service for EVERY major protocol, whether iDen, CDMA, or GSM.

AT&T Wireless had TDMA service before this at the Lincoln Tunnel. I personally remember the ads running on the radio and TV saying they were the only carrier with service there. This was somewhere around 1996-97. I know my TDMA Nokia phone worked down there before 1999.

[TurboDan]

Cool, that's interesting. I didn't know that. I bought my first cell phone in 1998, so it's one of the very few areas of electronics I wasn't an early adopter in. Interesting piece of recent history!