WAVE by AGC Archives - Page 2 of 2

Healthcare innovation and ways to successfully drive sustainable evolution were the focus of the 14^th FM Zorgcongres 2024. So, it was no surprise that for its first attendance, WAVE by AGC sparked a lot of interest in how technology can manage mobile connectivity issues and shape a brighter, more interconnected future for healthcare environments.

Facility managers of large hospitals and nursing homes who manage large investments in terms of the transformation and modernization of infrastructures learned first-hand from WAVE by AGC how the convergence of glass technology and healthcare offers boundless opportunities for collaboration. Healthcare professionals, managers, engineers, electro mechanics, discovered how they can introduce a cost-effective, maintenance-free alternative to traditional IT solutions.

At this FM Zorgcongres event focused on innovative advancements in the healthcare and technology sectors, Danny Havenith, Chairman of the European Health and Public Procurement Alliance (EHPPA), emphasized the significance of a robust ecosystem and the sharing of best practices for achieving sustainability success. He delved into the crucial role played by responsible hospital purchasers and the policies guiding decision-making, including the Green Deal, Procure4Health, Intrakoop, and the EHPPA Sustainability and Social Value Working Group.

Havenith also explored strategies for positively impacting the climate, the environment, and society. He discussed the importance of reducing energy consumption, striving for carbon neutrality, and making mindful investment decisions to foster a climate-responsible healthcare infrastructure. This includes minimizing usage and extending the lifespan of technology. For the healthcare sector, the deployment of highly interconnected technology is vital. Such technology ensures the continuous provision of essential services, elevates patient care, and boosts operational efficiency. It is indispensable for the secure and efficient exchange of data updates on patient health and critical communications, underscoring its foundational role in the industry.

WAVE by AGC at FM Zorgcongres 2024: a number of solutions that can help cost effectively manage the daily pressures

The revolutionary WAVETHRU from WAVE by AGC improves the transmission of radio frequencies with a laser glass surface treatment. This innovative and seamless technology enhances mobile connectivity without the need for mobile boosters. WAVETHRU is easy to install, requires no maintenance, and is compatible with all mobile network operators and technologies, including 5G. At FM Zorgcongres 2024 we demonstrated how the solution holds many benefits for the healthcare sector such as enhanced communication for patients and families, emergency alerts, immediate access to diagnostic results and images, augmented reality assisted robotic surgery, high quality video for telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, …

WAVETRAP is ideal for new hospitals. Invisible to the eye and featuring high coating technology, this transparent glass prevents the transmission of unwanted electromagnetic radiation to indoor environments and offers vital protection for departments such as MRI as it eliminates the need for partition walls. It also blocks waves without losing light and does not affect the insulating or thermal performance of glazing.

WAVEANTENNA is a range of aesthetic glass antenna solutions designed to enhance the visual experience in urban environment and building interiors while addressing network densification issues. WAVEATTOCH, the first product to join the WAVEANTENNA adventure in 2017 is designed to address mobile outdoor network densification issues in urban landscapes byoffering a seamlessly integrated glass antenna inside the building, behind the glazing, to enhance the network coverage outside. With WAVEANTENNA (Wi-Fi / Private 5G), seamlessly integrated glass antennas discreetly enhance the visual interior experience without compromising on connectivity performance. This solution is ideal for high-end spaces as it ensures top-notch performance without sacrificing aesthetics.

Want to know more on how to enhance the mobile communication experience in the healthcare sector and to ensure outstanding performances?
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We have all struggled to get a constant, reliable phone signal at some point. Dropped signal, low signal strength and too many people trying get access at the same time. These are just some of the daily interferences that affect our ability to achieve a smooth connection.

This can be a particular challenge in busy co-working spaces where a lot of people are making connections in converted buildings that may not always be able to deliver the signal strength required.

But as the world gears up for the 5G revolution and the constant need for more connectivity, it’s crucial to delve into the health implications this advanced technology brings.

Did you know that the less connectivity you have the more waves a mobile phone emits searching for the connection?

In fact mobile phones adjust their power output based on signal quality. In areas with good reception, they operate on just a few milliwatts of power, but in areas where the signal is weak, they may increase their power output to several watts.

A research from California Department of Health scientists found that radiation emissions from a cell phone in areas of low signal can be 10,000 times higher than in areas of high signal.

Other tests have found that most radiation comes from the Wi-Fi and the mobile used data. When making a long phone call with Wi-Fi or mobile data on, peaks from the internet activity will cause higher radiation values.

What all this means was explored by the IMEC & Ghent University, study “Comparison of downlink and uplink RF exposure from telecommunications with and without WAVETHRU glass by in-situ measurements.”

It assessed whether RF-transparent glazing also has a beneficiary effect on the RF-EMF exposure of an indoor mobile-phone user. It measured both downlink (from base station to user) and uplink (from user to base station) exposure, parameters for three types of mobile usage in windowed offices with and without WAVETHRU glass. An assessment and comparison of the total absorbed dose was performed for different types of users (e.g., heavy user vs. typical user).

The research indicated that the majority of radiation exposure from using a smartphone originates from the device, with minimal contribution from the base station. The findings reveal a significant disparity, showcasing a ratio of approximately 1200 to 1 between the radiation doses received from an indoor mobile-phone compared to those from the base station, significantly exceeding outdoor levels.

The impact of traditional technology vs. WAVETHRU

The aim of this research was also to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two scenarios: one where the building remains impervious to signals, and another where the building’s transparency allows for unobstructed wave transmission.

Where the building remains impervious to signals, installing a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) or a repeater has been the go-to solution to enhance poor signal reception within a building. This involves setting up a network of base stations inside the building to ensure continuous signal emission.

However, the study explores an alternative approach: making the building’s structure transparent to radio waves. This approach is precisely the one developed by WAVE by AGC. Its product line WAVETHRU allows external signals from the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) to penetrate the building directly, improving communication between the base station and the phone.

As a result the phone puts less strain on its antenna when connecting to the base station, which means that it uses less power and generates less waves. The study found that with WAVETHRU the phone emits one quarter of the quantity of waves, resulting in a 76% reduction in RF exposure for the typical user. Professor Joseph Wout, a co-author of the study, further explains that during the 2G voice call and both 4G scenarios, the highest durations of phone usage were observed in offices not equipped with WAVETHRU, with four out of the five or six top measurements. On average, phone usage time was 36–75% lower in offices equipped with WAVETHRU, compared to those without it or those not adjacent to an office with WAVETHRU. It’s important to note that the difference in phone usage time was less significant during the 4G file upload compared to the other scenarios. Interestingly, phone usage was generally lower during a 4G file upload than during a 4G video call. Yet, in offices with WAVETHRU, phone usage time was actually higher. This is logical since a faster data transmission might require more transmit power (i.e., more energy transmitted in less time), and the data throughput was on average four times higher in offices with WAVETHRU. In fact, the average data throughput exceeded 10 Mbps in only two offices, both of which were equipped with WAVETHRU glazing.

4G, 5G, and the health impact

WAVETHRU offers a dual benefit in data transmission with 4G. The phone consumes less power to establish a connection, and it also requires less time to send a specific volume of data, thanks to the availability of more 4G bands. As we embrace 5G, concerns around RF exposure and health increase due to its higher frequency and the need for more base stations.

However, technologies like WAVETHRU play a crucial role in mitigating these concerns by improving indoor signal strength and reducing the need for phones to emit higher levels of radiation and enabling faster data transfer and a potential reduction in health concerns associated with RF emissions.

Restoring connectivity and reducing RF exposure: the vibrant mix of WAVETHRU

Compared to the low-emissivity coated glazing found in modern passive buildings, WAVETHRU clearly improved the indoor-outdoor radio connection, with higher received powers of the base station signals (downlink) and lower transmit powers of the user device (uplink), as well as higher throughputs.

For those looking to minimize mobile phone emissions in challenging spaces, WAVETHRU by AGC presents an innovative solution, promising a new era in connectivity while addressing health concerns related to mobile phone use. It also offers a cost-effective, maintenance-free solution for preserving network security and privacy.

To learn more about how to reduce the waves emitted by mobile phones even in the most challenging of spaces talk to the WAVE by AGC team.

Want to know more on how to enhance the mobile communication experience in your working space and to ensure a brilliant client experience?
Get in touch with us now.

Poor signal strength at work doesn’t have to be your reality. The vision of co-working is sold to agile operations and flexible freelancers as a harmonious and professional environment that supports highly efficient working.

This contemporary approach has enabled collaborative workspaces to become commonplace. With that is the expectation that robust mobile connectivity is assured.

But so often that is not the case. Picture this: a diverse group of individuals working cordially under one roof. However, this idyllic setting can swiftly sour when our smartphones, the indispensable tools of our trade, falter. Poor signal strength can impede productivity, disrupt calls, and complicate internet access. For freelancers and remote workers dependent on these environments, such challenges are not just inconvenient; they directly impact productivity and profitability.

Disruption can be costly as a report by UK telecoms firm Daisy Group found. It discovered 47% of managers thought they rarely or never suffered from poor connectivity, when an average of 45 minutes downtime was being experienced every week – this is equal to more than £500 per employee, per year, in lost productivity.

Identifying the Dilemma: When Bars Mean Business

Imagine this: You’re mid-video conference, the deal of the year hanging by a thread on your presentation, and suddenly, your phone signal fades, the screen pixelates, your words becoming fractured as they reach your client’s earpiece. Due to poor signal strength, every stuttered syllable delivers a pound of unprofessionalism, eroding your credibility by the second.

It’s not just about calls dropping; it’s about the connotation of amateur hour, that tinge of techno-wobbliness, that even the most laid-back digital native cannot quite shake. And this isn’t a problem with a sole solution; it splinters into a spectrum of predicaments in the co-working environment.

How many times have we had to act like detectives, searching every corner for that perfect spot with good signal strength? Or experienced the awkwardness of telling our client to wait as we move to a different Wi-Fi zone? Or waited for a frozen screen to become alive again in the hope the other party has stayed in the call too? These frustrating moments slowly wear down our professional resilience.

Key to a happy, productive and fruitful working day is connectivity. We don’t want to have to move close to a window or go outside to make a call where there will likely be incessant disturbances. We don’t want to create a bad perception of the service we are trying to offer customers – both on calls or when they visit the office. We also want to ensure we can deliver a high quality service that reflects our values.

Tackling the Challenges of Poor Signal Strength: That Answer is Clear

Should poor signal strength persist, it may result in the need to have time-consuming and challenging conversations with the property owner. Even worse, a move might have to be considered. Alongside the time, effort and cost associated with finding a new location there is also the added disruption and potential loss of business as well as valued team members.

This does not have to be the case. A glazing on which WAVETHRU by AGC has been applied allows the mobile signal to seamlessly enter the building. The retrofittable state-of-the-art technology for mobile indoor coverage is quick to install, maintenance free, versatile, silent, clean, invisible, CO2 emission free, and lasts as long as the glass does.

The process applies a unique laser pattern to the glazing with 30 µm laser engraved lines that are nearly invisible to the naked eye. Just 20% to 30% of the window and floors 0 to 4 need to be treated to improve the indoor signal on all frequency ranges under 6GHz. This makes it a future-proof solution for 5G and there is no need to adapt the solution if new technology is introduced or the operator infrastructure changes. Treatment is gentle and does not affect the physical properties of the glazing.

WAVETHRU makes poor indoor connectivity a thing of the past leaving you and your clients to focus fully on business success.

Conclusion: In the Arms of Connectivity

It is within the grasp of our hands that we possess the future – the future of our business transactions, our networks, and our reputation. Mobile connectivity is not a secondary concern; it lies at the core of our principles as professionals in this rapidly advancing digital era.

To learn more about optimizing your mobile experience in co-working spaces and to become a part of the community passionate about seamless connectivity, explore WAVETHRU. It’s time to turn the tide in your favour and ensure that your mobile connectivity supports your professional ambitions.

Want to know more on how to enhance the mobile communication experience in your co-working space and to ensure a brilliant client experience?
Get in touch with us now.