Indoor coverage requirements and solutions

Mobile phones are already becoming a part of everyday life. Subscribers expect to be able to use their handsets everywhere. A key factor in the success of a cellular operator therefore is the ability to fulfil subscribers' expectations in terms of coverage. Hence, dedicated indoor coverage is required where the signal from outdoor cells is weak or where additional capacity is needed. Indoor coverage planning differs from its outdoor counterpart due to the large variety of building types and layouts combined with the constraint that the indoor cell must integrate seamlessly with the existing outdoor network. This paper discusses how in-building coverage generates new challenges for GSM operators, equipment manufacturers and network planners and how these are being addressed.