• Shared Infrastructure Model Some enterprises are exploring infrastructure- sharing agreements with neighboring businesses or property owners to distribute the infrastructure costs more effectively. Multi-tenant buildings, corporate campuses, and business districts can benefit from jointly funded solutions that serve multiple stakeholders under a single deployment. This model is highly efficient and can be ideal for small businesses if they are located with other businesses whose owners agree on the value wireless brings to each organization. • Hybrid Model In-building wireless funding is not always black and white and occasionally businesses will leverage a mix of funding options, combining elements of capital expenditures (CapEx), operating expenditures (OpEx), and third-party management. For example, an enterprise might partially fund a DAS or repeater deployment while also relying on a managed service provider to handle operations and maintenance under a subscription-based model. Beyond cost, most businesses do not want the weight of respons- ibility for managing the network should something go wrong. • Enterprise Fully-Funded Mode This model is where enterprises fully fund the deployment of in-building wireless infrastructure, including signal sources, cabling, antennas, and system integration costs. This approach has the greatest wireless advantages because it gives enterprises complete control and ownership of the network, but it also requires substantial upfront costs, making it viable for the upper tier of mid-sized companies and large enterprises. Part 20 repeaters, however, can create a way for small buildings, whether retailers, businesses, or other smaller establishments, to afford CapEx and OpEx costs of bringing cellular connectivity indoors. UNDERSTANDING FCC PART 20 INDUSTRIAL AND CONSUMER REPEATERS To understand the advantages of Part 20 consumer repeaters for small businesses (Figure 1), an installer must first consider the differences between Part 20 industrial and consumer repeaters.
fill this gap is with buildings under 75,000 square feet - of which there are a seemingly countless supply of across the U.S. These are buildings where cellular coverage is often an issue but enterprises may not have the resources to cover substantial wireless costs. In this case, these repeaters prove more cost-effective than industrial repeaters and avoid the bureaucratic hurdles. While the actual process varies depending on the brand of consumer repeater, enterprises can simply scan a barcode for each carrier, visit the appropriate website, and enter basic details such as address, bands, and serial numbers. This process can take only minutes and is significantly easier and faster than the aforementioned industrial process, which can take up to six months for approval and still carry risk of being denied after extensive network design work. Consumer repeaters may also require less labor to install, compared to industrial systems with their simple system design. While an experienced integrator is still recommended, the overall complexity is significantly lower. This is partially due to the FCC mandating that everything required to deploy it must be packaged together - including the coaxial cable and other passives. Another element that makes deploy- ment easier is the flexibility of where it is acceptable to place the consumer repeater. Its small form factor means it can be placed effectively anywhere, compared with industrial repeaters that are much larger and must be typically concealed in a telecommunications closet or other hidden area of the building. These elements make consumer repeaters a viable solution for enterprises that need coverage but lack the budget resources or the appetite for an extensive wireless deployment. THE ROLE OF CONVERGED SYSTEMS IN CUTTING COSTS Another element that can reduce friction and total cost for installing commercial cellular wireless in smaller enterprises is coupling the benefits of converged system deployments and Part 20 consumer repeaters. Converging systems refers to sharing the same cabling, antennas, and some hardware for a public safety system with a commercial wireless system.
FIGURE 1: Rack-mounted Part 20 consumer grade repeater. Source: ADRF
pre-packaging to support specific radio frequency (RF) bands, and are subject to much less rigorous regulatory oversight. This is because the FCC has already established specific requirements for consumer signal boosters to ensure they do not cause harmful interference to wireless networks. For example, as of February 20, 2013, the FCC ceased accepting applications for equipment certification of consumer signal boosters that do not comply with the new rules. Additionally, these repeaters must adhere to labeling and technical specifications outlined in Section 47 CFR § 20.21. The label of Part 20 consumer repeaters itself can be misleading since there are various levels of sophis- tication in this category. There are true DIY consumer repeaters that are low-cost but are less reliable and often subject to poor performance due to noise interference. On the other hand, there are Part 20 consumer repeaters more suitable for enterprises, which are more costly and enhance coverage without regulatory friction. It is this “enterprise- grade” Part 20 consumer repeater that can support small businesses struggling to find the right balance of coverage, cost, and deployment simplicity. The sweet spot for where Part 20 consumer repeaters
Part 20 industrial repeaters are intended for use by businesses, airports, sports stadiums, and other large venues. These repeaters are typically used to enhance communication within large facilities or specific outdoor regions. Additionally, industrial repeaters are subject to stringent regulatory requirements compared to their consumer counterparts. For example, they must be registered with the FCC before use and are required to meet specific technical standards to prevent interference with other critical communications systems. The registration process involves a retransmission consent agreement, which includes providing detailed information about the repeater’s location, technical parameters, and the licensee responsible for its operation. In contrast, Part 20 consumer repeaters, often referred to as consumer signal boosters, are designed for use by individuals and small businesses to improve wireless coverage in areas with weak signal strength, such as homes, vehicles, and small offices. These devices are intended to be user-friendly and are typically authorized for immediate use upon purchase. They are simple and straightforward, with
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ICT TODAY
April/May/June 2025
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