Staying online and connected to the world is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Sadly, connectivity is still a major issue in indoor spaces. There are signal disruptions, dead network corners, and an inability of WiFi systems to handle excessive connections, among other issues.
And this isn’t a tale of buildings in remote areas. This problem is common even for indoor spaces in metropolitan cities. That’s because telecom towers on the outside are perfect for outdoor spaces but often fail for indoor spaces. And most buildings only use WiFi networks for connectivity.
This can cause several problems – on the lesser side, people can be out of network and be bored with their disconnected phones and on the severe side, it can cause communication problems for severe health cases or prevent people from contacting police in case of school shootings.
Problems with using WiFi as a standalone connectivity source
So, the issues are many. Most buildings sure have WiFi connectivity, but on their own, that technology has several challenges.
- Limited connectivity
- Technical challenges
- Poor connectivity due to signal obstruction
- Dead corners
These are just a few on the list. There are several others.
However, there’s a way to get past them by using WiFi in harmony with in-building Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). This tech allows people to use their mobile networks seamlessly in almost any corner of the indoor space. To put things into perspective:
- An active DAS cell can easily give thousands of people network access, but even the best commercial WiFi router cannot achieve that.
- Cellular data is faster compared to WiFi. And DAS connections usually remain uninterrupted whereas WiFi can easily lose performance when more people connect.
- WiFi calling is poor compared to DAS. Haven’t you noticed that moving around on a WiFi connected call easily breaks signals where as that’ never an issue with network connections.
Let’s now explore the technology and its benefits more.
What is In-building Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)?
This technology is designed to enhance the wireless network coverage so that cell phones and wireless devices can receive signals anywhere in the indoor space.
So, anyone in the building stays connected and will not need to depend upon WiFi as the only source of connectivity. Let’s see the benefits of installing in-building DAS and how it can improve connectivity in coexisting with WiFi networks.
How In-building DAS Complements WiFi Networks
Here’s how installing DAS besides WiFi can offer seamless connectivity to indoor space visitors:
Overcoming WiFi Limitations:
WiFi signals can be obstructed by physical barriers like walls and floors, leading to dead zones and signal degradation indoors.
Deploying In-building DAS alongside WiFi amplifies cellular signals within the building, providing an additional layer of connectivity that complements WiFi coverage.
Future-Proofing Connectivity:
The demand for better indoor connectivity will only rise from this point. Per stats, The U.S. wireless & mobile industry spent $11.9 billion building additional capacity and coverage into the nation’s wireless networks in 2022.
With an increasing need for better customer experience, visitor safety, better connectivity, etc., the demand for in-building connections is expected to grow largely. So, sooner or later everyone will have to opt for a well-rounded connectivity setup.
By investing in In-building DAS alongside WiFi infrastructure, businesses and organizations can future-proof their connectivity solutions, providing a robust communication platform for years to come.
Security Concerns Over WiFi
With the rise of cyber crimes at unprecedented rates, people aren’t very comfortable connecting to public WiFi networks. You ensure their peace of mind when your building has seamless network connectivity via DAS.
In fact, public WiFi scares people. A study by Norton shows that 57% of Americans claim that their personal information was stolen when they connected to a public WiFi network. This can seriously put businesses at a threat of delivering poor customer experience.
Enhanced Coverage and Reliability:
In-building DAS consists of a network of antennas strategically placed throughout the building, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all areas, including basements, elevators, and remote corners where WiFi signals may struggle to reach.
This means that the users get to enjoy reliable cellular connectivity for voice calls, text messages, and data usage, even in areas where WiFi alone may falter.
Service Provider Limitations No Longer Exist:
In-building DAS technology benefits all users, regardless of their service provider. This eliminates the need for users to rely on a single WiFi provider for connectivity.
And in case the WiFi system goes down, there’s always another solution available to connect to. Otherwise, the whole building depends on just one source of connectivity, which has its own set of problems.
Lesser Load on WiFi Systems:
Buildings set up their WiFi systems with certain expectations of footprints in mind. When the foot traffic unexpectedly grows, the WiFi systems can completely collapse.
With the option for cellular internet, visitors can choose to switch in case they aren’t satisfied with the WiFi performance.
Concluding Remarks
WiFi systems have surely transformed the way connectivity works. However, its limitations make it clear that a sole dependency on WiFi does not suffice for uninterrupted communication.
And in instances where quick communication is needed, WiFi systems can be unreliable. Slow load times, incapability to handle large visitors, dead corners, obstruction, etc., can be so problematic and can prevent businesses from offering a great customer experience.
It’s time to embrace the in-building DAS as a parallel solution to WiFi connectivity and offer seamless communication to visitors.
Want that for your building? Book an appointment with us right away!