In today’s hyper-connected world, dependable wireless and wired connectivity is crucial for individuals and businesses. However, various factors can hinder proper network coverage, leading to dropped calls, slow internet speeds and frustration among users. In-building solutions (IBS) address these by offloading traffic from macrocell networks, improving service quality. Technologies such as small cells and distributed antenna systems (DAS) enhance indoor coverage. These solutions are radio frequency-transparent and vendor-neutral, supporting multiple telecom service providers across different technologies and frequency bands.

Types of IBS

IBS comes in various forms, such as Wi-Fi, fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), small cells and DAS. Each technology offers unique advantages and addresses specific connectivity challenges.

  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi enhances connectivity by increasing bandwidth and capacity, making networks faster, more energy-efficient and capable of supporting a large number of devices simultaneously. Many organisations have been taking steps to enhance Wi-Fi deployment. For example, ACT Fibernet has installed over 4,500 Wi-Fi hotspots in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad to bridge the digital divide in the country, providing seamless internet access in public spaces such as bus stops, hospitals, libraries, malls, parks and schools. Moreover, the finance minister of Tamil Nadu has announced plans to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots at 1,000 locations across all major corporations.
  • FTTH: Optical fibre cables are vital for better connection, because they have a substantially larger bandwidth compared to traditional methods such as using metal cables, enabling quicker information transfer per unit of time. Slow internet connections may cost organisations weeks’ worth of production. Fibre is a potential solution, designed for data-intensive streaming requirements such as 4K home entertainment. It supports multiple devices and has low power loss, because of which it can transmit data over longer distances at higher bandwidths.
  • Digital small cells and DAS: Small cells are miniature Wi-Fi routers that are smaller than standard cell towers and can easily be deployed in urban areas, particularly on streetlights, utility poles and building walls. Wi-Fi-powered small cells enhance network coverage and capacity in dense environments such as stadiums, convention centres and large public spaces. They also serve as gateways or repeaters for long-range wide area networks (WANs), and work with low power WANs such as Sigfox, narrow band-internet of things and Category M1.

Key initiatives

The government has played a crucial role in driving interest in the sector. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has urged Parliament to discuss a bill that grants free internet access to all citizens, arguing that people cannot exercise the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression without access to the internet. In addition, DoT has asked telecom operators to deploy IBS inside airports to improve connectivity for passengers.

On the industry side, Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) has made significant strides by deploying state-of-the-art L900 technology in 3,000 sites across Kolkata, and L2100 and L900 technology in Punjab and Haryana, aimed at enhancing indoor network experiences for telecom users across the states. This deployment of spectrum will improve coverage and connectivity in urban areas with dense building infrastructure, as well as in rural areas where signal penetration is difficult. It will enhance voice call quality, enhance messaging and improve the data browsing experience indoors.

Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel has expanded its Wi-Fi services to 12.4 million new households in Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Telangana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab and Karnataka. Moreover, the telco has started refarming its existing mid-band spectrum to accommodate the growing traffic demand on its 5G network by expanding 5G services on its 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300 MHz bands across the country. The pilot of the standalone and non-standalone network switch has been conducted in Rewari, Chennai and Bhubaneswar, and the results have been encouraging. Through mid-band spectrum, customers can enjoy enhanced browsing speeds.

HFCL Limited and MediaTek have collaborated to integrate a chipset with their indoor 5G solution and help telecom operators address last-mile connectivity challenges, in line with the government’s vision of creating a sustainable telecom ecosystem.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is in discussions with telecom start-ups and companies to conduct live trials of 5G technology using BSNL’s 700 MHz band at locations such as Connaught Place, areas around Sanchar Bhawan, JNU campus, India Habitat Centre and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Delhi; parts of Gurugram; across Bengaluru, including indoor government offices and campuses; parts of Chennai; and the IIT campus in Hyderabad.

Challenges and the way forward

Obstacles such as walls, windows and construction materials can weaken radio signals. Indoor connectivity performance also gets impacted when power level configurations are poor, access points are not placed effectively or there is interference from other networks in the vicinity. Meanwhile, certain IBS equipment, such as DAS, are expensive to deploy, which increases overall costs. Scalability issues also often pose challenges.

Challenges notwithstanding, the IBS market’s outlook is extremely positive, as buildings are becoming smarter and user expectations are evolving. According to EY, only 40 million households are connected with broadband in India currently. The aim is to take this to 240 million, which would require a investment of about Rs 4.2 trillion by 2030.