Design the best. Maintain the best.
CONCLUSION The rollout of 5G in-building deployments has high- lighted the significant advancements and uncovered the challenges associated with this current generation of wireless technology. While the promise of ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and enhanced connectivity is appealing, the journey to fully realizing these benefits is complex and multifaceted. As businesses and consumers grow increasingly reliant on data-intensive applications and services, the successful deployment of 5G networks will be crucial in meeting these demands. However, the complexities and costs associated with these deployments mean that the trans- ition will require time and significant investment. Ultimately, the growing pains of 5G in-building dep- loyments are a necessary step toward a more connected, efficient, and technologically advanced future. 6G and subsequent wireless technologies are expected to con- tinue the trend of focusing on signal quality per user instead of broad coverage, so preparing diligently can help ensure the digital infrastructure is in place for the next generation.
However, the need for mid-band 5G to provide high capacity and low latency has shifted in favor of optical fiber cables. Optical fiber cabling offers several advantages, including minimal signal loss, high bandwidth capacity, and resilience to environmental factors. Optical fiber is especially crucial for ensuring high-frequency 5G signals can reach users without significant degradation. The use of optical fiber also brings logistical benefits to 5G deployments. Optical fiber cables are lighter and more flexible than coaxial cables, making them easier to install, particularly in complex environments with numerous physical obstacles or space constraints. The benefit of cable flexibility increases when con- sidering the extra equipment required for 5G install- ations, as previously mentioned, and how challenging it is to deploy and disguise the cable. While the upfront cost of deploying optical fiber can be higher due to the need for specialized splicing equipment and expertise, the long-term benefits of total cost of ownership (TCO), per-formance, and scalability are substantial. Of course, coaxial cables still play an important role in specific scenarios, particularly where the primary concern remains to be providing coverage rather than capacity. In areas where providing broad coverage is more important than high throughput bandwidth, coaxial cables are still a cost-effective and reliable option.
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AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Mohammed Ali is the manager of DAS Engineering at Advanced RF Technologies Inc. (ADRF), responsible for leading the DAS engineering division within the company across all global accounts. He has more than 10 years of experience in in-building DAS engineering and wireless network planning. Prior to joining ADRF, Mohammed worked as an RF Engineer at TeleworX and Huawei Technologies Sudan and a Network Management Engineer at ZAIN Sudan. Mohammed holds a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Khartoum in Sudan and a Master’s of Science degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Maryland.
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