The Ultimate Guide to In-Building Wireless Systems for Business

Competitive Advantage

In a world where business functions and consumer needs are increasingly mobile, strong wireless coverage is more critical than ever. Whether you are running a company or you own a facility, poor wireless connectivity simply results in lost business.

Increasingly, tenants choose locations for their businesses and their decisions to renew leases based on their access to wireless coverage. Incorporating an in-building system into your project plan early on can help you avoid vacancies and revenue loss.

Public Safety Requirements

There is a growing awareness of providing first responders wireless coverage within buildings so their 2-way radios will work in an emergency. This focus started in major metropolitan areas, but with the re-banding and digitization of 2-way radio signals, the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and IFC (International Fire Code) have increased the breadth of their recommendations relating to indoor public safety coverage. Depending on your jurisdiction, there are increasing numbers of fire codes requiring any new or renovated building have public safety coverage systems installed.

Even if a public safety system isn’t required in your area today, there are more and more dead zones for first responders. FirstNet, the upcoming nationwide public safety network, is based on 4G LTE signals. If there isn’t 4G coverage in your building today, you may not have public safety coverage for the FirstNet system.

Energy-Efficient Construction Challenges

Green construction practices and building materials are part of a sustainability trend that isn’t going away any time soon. These energy-efficient practices are great for our environment, our communities, and our energy bills.

But one drawback many people aren’t aware of is that certain of these energy-efficient building materials can block wireless signals, causing poor connectivity inside buildings. Specifically, Low-e windows (windows with low thermal emissivity) have a coating that reduces energy use by reflecting heat into the building in the winter and out in the summer—but this coating has also been found to be an enemy of cell phone signals.

Energy-efficient building materials continue to be a priority for developers and building tenants today. Whether planning new construction or retrofitting existing buildings, plan your in-building wireless solution upfront to avoid potential connectivity issues down the line.

Efficient Business Operations

Not only is reliable wireless coverage imperative for your tenants and patrons, but it’s equally important for streamlining business operations.

Effective internal communications are vital to your success. Whether your venue is noisy and fast-paced or simply large, a reliable internal communications strategy helps your staff collaborate and contact one another. Two-way radios, cell phones, and other mission-critical equipment and applications must work without question. Build your competitive advantage by streamlining business operations with the help of an in-building system.