Mobile connectivity: just how connected are we?

This article was written for National Technology Day, 6th January 2024 by Sam Jackman, Chief Development Officer of Shared Access, an independent owner and operator of communications infrastructure.

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have built out strong 2G, 3G and 4G networks for the outdoor environment and are well on the way to having good 5G coverage in place. This will improve as each MNO rolls out their standalone 5G core networks which will de-couple their 5G networks from their 4G and so release the handbrake. The truth is that we won’t experience true 5G until it runs on its own core.

Mobile connectivity what does good look like?

The indoor environment is, however a totally different scenario. The fact is that buildings block mobile signals, and new energy efficient building materials like glass, concrete and steel create ‘faraday cages’ that stop signals penetrating inside buildings. This problem hasn’t been fixed at a national level and so dedicated systems need to be installed inside each and every building – systems that either deliver guaranteed, dedicated capacity or repeater systems that take outdoor signal and ‘repeat’ it inside the building.

Both approaches have high costs and historically have not seen a return on investment for the MNOs. The facts are simple. If every user inside a building switched to the new MNO who has paid to improve the signal, the number of users inside that building still wouldn’t cover the costs to justify a return on investment.

It’s worth noting that to deploy a guaranteed capacity system (such as a Distributed Antenna System or ‘DAS’), fibre connectivity into the building is required. To date this hasn’t been available in lots of cities across Ireland – or where it is available, the cost to use it is so expensive that it has, again, killed return on investment calculations.

As such, while we are connected by great coverage outside, we often still struggle for connectivity and capacity inside. And that’s a bitter pill to swallow, because around 80% of mobile phone usage takes place inside buildings.

So what can be done to achieve a better mobile signal in buildings and in busy areas?

• Additional macro sites need to be built by the MNOs – masts, rooftops and urban ‘street solutions’ which deliver street level capacity 4G and 5G infill solutions. As more capacity is deployed outdoors, there is greater possibility that signals can penetrate building infrastructure, improving coverage and capacity.
• Installation of dedicated in-building mobile connectivity systems. These can be DAS solutions or sophisticated booster systems. Either approach relies on increased investment – whether through additional macro sites boosting the external signal from which an internal booster can piggyback, or through installation of fibre for a DAS system. One size doesn’t fit all; any solution needs be based on footfall, building layout and design.
• Perhaps most importantly, landlords and tenants need to be open to covering the cost of any in-building system, because mobile network operators no longer have a compelling business case to invest in this type of infrastructure. This is why neutral hosts such as Shared Access entered the market, to facilitate this critical investment.

What does the future hold for mobile connectivity?

There will unquestionably be more landlord and tenant funded systems for in-building mobile connectivity. Demand has grown and there is now a strong commercial understanding and awareness of this need. Mobile is now seen as fundamental to a building, just like the other core services, such as Wi-Fi, water and power.

Once mobile connectivity has been installed in a building, it can support a host of other services, including IoT, sensors, video calls, security systems and private networks. Crucially, all these layers can be used to achieve cost savings and/or business growth, which will justify the investment.

As mobile networks shift to be viewed more as a commodity than a specialist service only provided by mobile network operators, the operators will need to develop new revenue models. This could be in the form of network slicing (delivering faster speeds to users who pay more) or by receiving the so-called ‘fair share’ contributions from technology companies that have been asked for in the press. Whatever this looks like,  something needs to change. We all need mobile network operators to become profitable and achieve a decent return on their investment, so that they attract additional investment into their networks and can grow them to roll out 5G successfully.

Author: Sam Jackman, Chief Development Officer of Shared Access, an independent owner and operator of communications infrastructure. It works with mobile network operators and landlords to design, install and run systems that deliver great connectivity. Shared Access has designed, installed, and acquired over 1,000 mast locations across Ireland and the UK and has developed critical infrastructure in a number of high-profile settings including Aviva Stadium, Dundrum Town Centre and the National Gallery in London.  More at sharedaccess.com

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