3 Key Factors Office Tenants Need To Know When It Comes To Reliable, Future-Ready In-Building Connectivity
Data streaming, mobile apps, video streaming and the Internet of Things have done more than revolutionize how people consume information. These trends have changed how and where people work. As more office workers rely on data streaming devices to conduct business, often bringing their own devices to use in the office, reliable cellular connectivity has become a critical feature for companies looking for office space.
A majority of Americans — 77% — now own a cellphone of some kind, according to The Pew Center, up from 35% in 2011. Smartphones have become part of a daily routine for people, and as the Internet of Things transitions from homes to office towers, building owners are preparing their properties for the increased demand for strong, reliable connectivity.
Zinwave, a provider of indoor cellular and public safety connectivity through its distributed antenna system solution, has broken down the formula for strong in-building connectivity across three tenets: fiber-based connections, full spectrum service and future-proof hardware. Using DAS, Zinwave provides the connectivity infrastructure every building needs to optimize tenant satisfaction and retention.
1. Fiber-Based Connections
Zinwave’s in-building wireless solution uses fiber cabling throughout the system. The fiber infrastructure also uses a building’s current cabling and infrastructure, making the system more affordable and easier to install.
Traditional copper wires, which were used in older building stock, transmit electrical currents, while fiber optic cables send pulses of light. Fiber optic technology has a stronger signal strength that will not decrease in quality over long distances. It is also less susceptible to noise and electromagnetic interference than electricity along a copper wire.
For companies with multiple employees using multiple devices, fiber optic cables can handle higher use without a drop in quality. For example, a local area network using modern copper lines can carry 3,000 telephone calls at once, while a similar system using fiber optics can carry over 31,000.
2. Full Spectrum Service
Along with reliability of service, providing tenants with choice when it comes to their service provider factors in office leasing and retention. Tenants want the freedom to choose their connectivity provider, and with four major U.S. operators, tenants often have a mix of carrier needs across employees.
Zinwave’s DAS solution can support all currently deployed cellular and public safety frequencies on a single hardware layer. Having full spectrum support allows Zinwave’s DAS solution to work with any cellular carrier and any frequency, without the need to purchase additional equipment as additional carriers and frequencies are added.
3. Future-Ready
The rise in green office buildings has also led to smart infrastructure that adds to the demand for reliable connectivity. The global market for smart building technology is expected to grow to almost $24.7B by 2021.
Sensors must be able to monitor air pressure and flow, lighting and temperature. For these technologies to function, in-building wireless connectivity must be in place to enable building management systems to communicate and adapt accordingly.
Using a DAS solution that can add frequencies and increase coverage and capacity through a software configuration is a simple way to prepare for future use without upgrading the physical infrastructure. Zinwave solutions support all frequencies and can accommodate a full host of carriers and added cellular and public safety frequencies.
As the “bring your own device” workplace becomes more commonplace, and as employees become more dependent on mobile data use, offices that fail to provide adequate connectivity will experience difficulty renewing leases. According to a WiredScore and Radius Global Market Research report, 72% of those in charge of leasing decisions for businesses say a reliable connection is critical when choosing an office building. Reliable in-building connectivity has become a standard, rather than an amenity.
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