Impact of Modern Construction Materials on Radio Signal Propagation: Practical Measurements and Network Planning Aspects

Use of energy efficient construction materials is increasing all the time due to more and more tightened building regulations, which aim is to reduce overall energy consumption and thereon e.g. mitigate climate change. Energy efficient building materials and structures improve heat insulation but also change the propagation characteristics of radio signals between outdoor and indoors. This paper examines in details such propagation effects and increased levels of outdoor-indoor attenuation in modern apartment buildings, and their impact on mobile cellular networks. In particular, the aim is to compare external wall attenuations for the modern and older apartment buildings and to assess the impact of increased attenuations for the density and planning of cell sites of mobile cellular macro networks. We also demonstrate and evaluate the opportunities for increased indoor signal coverage by using a dedicated aperture installed in building materials.