By Claus Hetting, Wi-Fi NOW CEO & Chairman
Despite the undeniable need for better indoor wireless services, the topic has arguably not received nearly enough attention from the telecoms industry. Now analyst Dean Bubley and Wi-Fi NOW are teaming up to present and debate the opportunities and challenges inherent in delivering indoor services satisfying the sometimes conflicting interests of multiple stakeholders. To participate join us April 22 at Wi-Fi World Congress in Sarasota, Florida.
Indoor wireless services are often lacking in both quality and coverage despite the fact that plenty of indoor wireless technologies are – at least in theory – readily available. The challenges are many and include regulation, the question of who pays for what, business case economics, and what technology – or combination of technologies – may eventually deliver the right products.
“One main reason why indoor wireless is a tough nut to crack is because of the number of stakeholders involved. This includes venue owners, telecom service providers, equipment vendors, property management companies, regulators, and many more. The industry likely needs to develop a number of technology and business models for a palette of services. We believe stakeholders first need to come together to highlight the issues and find a workable path forward,” says Dean Bubley.
Earlier this month industry leaders came together in London UK for an indoor wireless stakeholders seminar conducted by Dean Bubley. Important questions were raised and debated among the two dozen participants from across the industry. On April 22 the US version of the seminar will be held in connection with the Wi-Fi World Congress USA in Sarasota, Florida.
“It is important regulators begin focusing on indoor wireless as part of their spectrum strategies, for example. The vast majority of mobile traffic is consumed indoors yet this is hardly ever specifically addressed as a part of government strategy,” Dean Bubley says. As an example the White House released a new National Spectrum Strategy for the US in November of last year.
Dean Bubley also says that for example CBRS is unlikely to make much of a dent in a market that spans hundreds of thousands if not millions of indoor locations across the US. One the other hand Wi-Fi is making significant progress through various Passpoint-based initiatives, and Wi-Fi technology is often the much more cost-effective option for indoor mobile services when compared for example to indoor 5G small cells or DAS. To make the right choices, property managers will need to dig into the details.
“Property owners and property management companies have rarely been involved in debates on the future of indoor wireless – and one of our important missions is trying to change this. We strongly encourage the real estate and proptech sectors to join us to discuss how to generate real synergies between our industries,” Dean Bubley says.
Indoor wireless stakeholders seminar @Wi-Fi World Congress USA, Sarasota, Florida, April 22: Participants will acquire a more nuanced understanding of the future indoor wireless opportunity, stakeholder needs and objectives, technological and market forces, and what to do about them. It will be a unique opportunity to discuss important issues first-hand and in a secure yet open environment. To secure your seat and for more info click here or contact [email protected].
/Claus.
