WAVETHRU Archives - Page 2 of 2

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.

Request a free audit for your working space

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.

When your business premise is to provide office spaces designed as safe havens for demanding professionals craving efficiency, focus and connections, you cannot afford to have connectivity issues.

The ability to send and receive calls, freely share information, and manage smooth online communications is essential.

This fundamental business need will remain vital for a sector where projections show that 30% of corporate real estate could be flexible workspace by 2030, up from 2% today. This growth was echoed by The World Economic Forum’s white paper The Rise Global of Digital Jobs. It estimated a 25% increase in remote roles up to 90 million by 2030.

Unfortunately, as coworking solutions provider Silversquare found, signal reliability is not always guaranteed – particularly in a location such as the 1970s built Antwerp Tower which recently completed renovation and includes shops on the ground floor, offices on the first three floors, and around 200 luxury flats in the tower.

Essential connectivity

Kenny Decommer, Head of Architecture & Design, Silversquare, explains: “What makes us unique is our focus on architecture and interior design. This is what makes us stand out in the market and this is why our clients love Silversquare. As a co-working operator, we want to offer the best services to our clients, the best interior design and the best technology that is possible. In this regard the connectivity of a building is very important to us.”

Nick Wouters, Business Manager, Silversquare, continues: “Our members need to be connected to the outside world at any time at any moment. When we bought this building, we had no connectivity whatsoever. From two meters away from the window I could not receive a phone call. Now with WAVETHRU I can call anytime, anywhere.”

WAVETHRU by AGC ensures a stronger signal with improved call quality indoors and the ability to manage multiple frequencies. It enables a better end-user experience as phones consume less power for a longer battery life.

The process applies a unique laser pattern that is nearly invisible to the naked eye. Just 20% to 30% of the window needs 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.

Impactless installation

It is easy to install as the treatment is applied on-site to existing windows. It is non-intrusive as there are no wires. There is no impact on building aesthetics as it is invisible to building occupants and does not affect the glazing insulation or thermal performance.

Silversquare identified it as the best solution because it:

Improved call quality indoors for 2G 3G 4G and 5G.
Was multi-operator.
Had no impact on glazing performance.
Was highly cost effective.
Required zero maintenance.
Delivered forever compatibility with any IT technology.

Using the quick to install technology 147 windows – 5500 sqm – across three floors, were treated in the Antwerp Tower location. WAVETHRU has also been applied in three other Silversquare spaces.

Kenny concludes: “WAVETHRU offered the solution with the treatment on the window which is exactly what we needed. This is a solution that goes on for eternity. It doesn’t require maintenance and will stay as long as the glazing is in place. From now on our clients can call at anytime and anyplace within the entire co-working space.”

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

Indoor Mobile Coverage: A Growing Challenge

Indoor coverage refers to all systems that enable data exchange and phone connectivity within a building. In this article, we primarily focus on solutions for achieving high-quality indoor 2G/3G/4G/5G phone coverage. Currently, through our conducted audits, we observe that indoor coverage is becoming less natural in new buildings. This is paradoxical because the number of connected applications is increasing.

Many occupants complain about poor network coverage, resulting in slow or faulty applications or the inability to make external calls. We can specifically mention coworking spaces facing departures due to a lack of multi-operator coverage, healthcare facilities dealing with faulty 4G patient monitoring systems due to uneven coverage, and retail businesses experiencing problems with mobile payments and remote inventory management due to bandwidth limitations.

There is clearly a growing demand for uniform, high-quality indoor connectivity with substantial capacity in various sectors. Tenants are increasingly considering this aspect when choosing their building.

Is Indoor Mobile Coverage an Important Issue?

If we look at customer needs, telecom solutions, and construction methods, we observe that this problem will become more challenging in the future.

Regarding users:

It’s a general fact that 20 years ago, we only made phone calls, but now we can perform an impressive range of tasks with our smartphones (e.g., ehealth, ebanking, smarthome). The same applies to industries such as healthcare and transportation. This trend requires new workspaces and buildings to support these activities. There is a growing need for quality coverage within the building to facilitate massive data exchange and communication, often with low latency.

In terms of telecommunications, three key trends are noticeable:

Mobile networks, both Wi-Fi and cellular (4G, 5G), mainly operate in lower frequencies and are becoming saturated. To increase capacity, higher frequencies are required, but this comes at the cost of reduced coverage and increased sensitivity to building materials.
To protect user health, electromagnetic field (EMF) standards are becoming stricter, resulting in lower network power, which is not favorable for indoor connectivity.
Relying solely on Wi-Fi will not be sufficient. All technologies, including Wi-Fi and cellular networks, must be utilized to meet the demand. Each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. Wi-Fi is accessible but may lack quality and security, while cellular networks offer high quality and enhanced security but are more complex to implement.

Regarding buildings, we can highlight three key trends:

Buildings are becoming more energy-efficient.
Energy-efficient materials often contain metal, which significantly attenuates radio signals.
Indoor connectivity is rarely considered in building design. Solutions for providing connectivity are designated and installed after the building is closed, making them often expensive.
There is a trend towards increasingly multifunctional buildings, requiring multi-operator mobile coverage.

Regarding the glass used in buildings, it is not exempt from this trend. Since the 2000s, to achieve high energy performance, double and triple glazing often contain metallic layers that completely block radio waves but contribute to excellent energy performance.

In conclusion, the combination of all these factors demonstrates that indoor connectivity is becoming increasingly important and will be a crucial factor to consider in the buildings of the future, which are playing a more significant role in the choice of a building.

What Are the Best Practices for Improving Connectivity?

As connectivity experts, we propose a series of best practices to enhance connectivity in buildings:

Start Thinking About Connectivity from the Beginning: Consider connectivity from the initial stages of building design or renovation.
Conduct Coverage Audits During Different Construction Phases: Evaluate the final coverage in the building and take necessary measures.
Choose Materials Compatible with Radio Coverage: Select materials for the building envelope, such as glass and separating walls, that are compatible with radio coverage. For example, consider using WAVETHRU glass.
Analyze Future Occupants’ Needs: Understand the connectivity requirements of future occupants in terms of quality, data quantity, latency, and the number of operators needed.
Place High-Connectivity Functions Appropriately: During interior layout planning, ensure that functions requiring high connectivity are located in suitable areas. For instance, place a “phone corner” where multi-operator connectivity is strong.
Implement Active Solutions When Necessary: Apply active solutions as needed to enhance connectivity.

Traditional Solutions for Improving Indoor Mobile Coverage

When natural indoor coverage is insufficient within a building, several traditional solutions are typically employed, which we outline below:

Wi-Fi: In this scenario, Wi-Fi is installed without any improvements to cellular networks. Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) is relied upon for calls and data exchange. This solution has its limitations because VoWiFi only works on certain phones, and call quality often depends on the number of users on the network. Additionally, visitors from outside often cannot access Wi-Fi for security reasons. This solution should be considered as a last resort.
Repeater: This scenario involves placing a repeater, a system that captures the outdoor signal from base stations and amplifies it within the building. This solution often works for only one operator and requires wiring the entire building to place antennas. Budget-wise, it can cost between €40,000 and €80,000. The system needs regular maintenance and upgrades as technologies evolve. Additionally, antenna placement can impact user health. In this scenario, no additional network capacity is provided; capacity remains limited by the surrounding GSM networks.
Distributed Antenna System (DAS): This scenario is similar to the repeater. Antennas are placed throughout the building to bring in the signal. Unlike the repeater, the system is directly connected to the operator’s network via fiber optic cables. In this case, real additional capacity is provided both to the network and within the building, typically for buildings with many occupants (>5,000). This solution is highly effective but generally costly and often tied to a single operator. Budget-wise, it can range from €200,000 to several million euros. Like the repeater, this solution needs regular updates, maintenance, and also affects user health.

WAVETHRU: A Game Changer

At WAVE by AGC, we have developed an alternative solution to these active solutions, allowing for natural cellular network coverage simply by allowing phone signals from the outside to pass through the glass. As mentioned earlier, high-performance glass blocks radio signals. WAVETHRU is a treatment that makes glass transparent to radio waves using a laser process. The solution is applied on-site once the building is closed on a portion of the glass, enabling natural coverage within the building. It’s important to note that this treatment has no impact on the physical properties of the glass.

This solution offers several advantages:

Passive
Quick to implement
Multi-operator
No maintenance required
Future-proof: When the operator updates its network with new technologies, these will automatically be available within the building.
Health benefits: This solution reduces user exposure to radiation by a factor of four, as phones require less power to connect to the external network.
Combinable with active solutions to reduce overall costs

Deployment of the Solution and Performance Guarantee

As mentioned earlier, this solution is passive and does not provide additional capacity like DAS. To ensure good coverage within the building, WAVE always conducts a series of audits to verify the strength and quality of the external network before deploying the WAVETHRU solution. The solution is typically deployed in three stages:

Stage 1: An audit is conducted to assess the quality of the external network and operational feasibility.
Stage 2: Glass treatment is applied.
Stage 3: A post-treatment audit is conducted to verify network coverage. Additional glass surfaces may be treated if necessary.

Who We Are?

AGC is a manufacturer of flat glass for the building and automotive industries. In 2018, we created the startup WAVE dedicated to analyzing connectivity in buildings and marketing solutions to improve it. WAVE conducts 200 coverage audits in buildings every year and has developed solutions such as transparent glass for mobile waves, antennas for 5G networks, and bulletproof glass.

In Conclusion

Indoor mobile coverage is an aspect that will become increasingly critical in the future and must be considered from the building’s design phase to avoid unpleasant surprises during commissioning. WAVE, with its expertise in the building and telecommunications sectors, can assist you at various stages to bring your building into the world of smart buildings:

Advise you throughout the construction phase on building choices.
Conduct coverage audits or provide simplified audit tools to assist in building planning.
Implement passive glass solutions (WAVETHRU) to ensure good natural indoor mobile coverage.
Certify your building for connectivity.

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