Signal booster company SureCall said that its platform of scalable 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) signal boosters and antenna kitting options can be adapted to various solutions, which include in-building for hospitals, buildings and other venues,” Hongtao Zhan, CEO and founder at SureCall, told In Building Tech.
He added that the platform is modular enough to be scaled down to work in residential applications as well
“We see 5G mmWave as an incredibly large opportunity for signal boosters because indoor coverage will be non-existent without it. This means that our 5G Everywhere solution is needed everywhere indoors where someone wants to connect to 5G mmWave,” the executive said.
Zhan also said that the firm is also considering to launch this platform in other markets globally in the future. “We’re following other markets where they are adopting 5G mmWave. Our primary focus is on the U.S. market, but as 5G mmWave moves into other markets around the globe, we’ll be looking to bring our solution to them as well.
SureCall said it would unveil the new platform at the Mobile World Congress Americas (MWCA 2019) in Los Angeles, October 22-24.
Zhan added that the platform is not yet commercially available. “We’ve developed a booster platform that will enable 5G mmWave signal boosting that can be tailored to specific applications or use cases as needed. We’re in discussion with wireless carriers to adapt the platform to their customers needs,” he said.
At the time of the launch, SureCall highlighted that the booster platform offers the flexibility that carriers need to provide tailored 5G mmWave services across North America.
SureCall said its 5G mmWave booster platform is supported by industry features such as the exclusively patented Extended Range Technology (ERT) as well as amplification for all carriers operating 5G on the 28 GHz mmWave band. In addition, the booster is designed to be fully Federal Communications Commission-compliant with current and upcoming 5G regulations, including network protection standards, for seamless integration into cell tower networks.
The company added that a unique obstacle to making 5G mmWave available for the wider public is the stark contrast in the way current cell signals( including 4G LTE) propagate compared to 5G mmWave signals. Today’s cell towers are capable of delivering functional cell signals up to 30-45 miles away while the 5G mmWave cell towers are expected to only cover areas up to a few blocks away, according to SureCall.
Additionally, the penetration power of 5G mmWave signals is much weaker, compared to the current bands being used today. 5G mmWave frequencies have shorter range, but they are also much more sensitive to obstacles such as walls, windows, and doors, and are even impeded by leaves on trees or falling rain water, the company added.
SureCall explained that signal boosters are primarily required only in buildings where building materials can block the signal, or when the distance to a cell tower is excessive, such as in rural areas. But, it said, 5G mmWave signal boosters will become an absolute necessity for virtually every building and room that wishes to provide 5G connectivity for users inside the structure.