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How is indoor 5G connectivity elevating consumer experiences?

  • 5G is revolutionizing indoor consumer experiences, from enhanced connectivity in sports arenas to new business models for service providers.
  • Innovative deployment strategies enable seamless indoor 5G performance, improving fan engagement and operational efficiency in large indoor venues.

Chief Architect – Indoor 5G RAN Solutions

Imagine Studio Manager Ericsson North America

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Chief Architect – Indoor 5G RAN Solutions

Imagine Studio Manager Ericsson North America

Chief Architect – Indoor 5G RAN Solutions

Contributor (+1)

Imagine Studio Manager Ericsson North America

 

As we spend most of our time indoors, generating a large portion of mobile traffic, networks need to keep up with the increasing demand. In our previous blogs, we explored the growing need for better indoor connectivity and how 5G is accelerating enterprise operations. In this post, we showcase how 5G enhances consumer experiences through innovative deployment strategies and real-world applications. We explore how these deployment strategies ensure seamless connectivity in high-traffic venues, such as sports arenas.

The shift toward indoor 5G

Many indoor venues still rely on older 4G DAS, which struggles to support new and advanced applications. 5G with faster speeds and more reliable performance makes it a perfect choice for large venues—such as offices, airports, indoor stadiums, and malls—where many people gather. It also opens new ways to engage customers, creating revenue growth opportunities for businesses and communications service providers (CSPs). Current statistics indicate that indoor usage patterns feature nearly 1.5 to 2 times more traffic per user than outdoor environments. However, a significant portion of indoor deployments in the US still operate on 4G distributed antenna systems, which struggle to accommodate emerging business cases and escalate CSPs’ total cost of ownership.

Deployment strategies for indoor coverage

When implementing indoor 5G coverage, Communication Service Providers (CSPs) can leverage three primary strategies: deploying infrastructure independently, becoming a neutral host and sharing infrastructure with other CSPs, or leasing infrastructure from neutral hosts.

Neutral host deployments, such as those using Radio Dot Systems (RDS), facilitate efficient infrastructure sharing. This reduces both capital and operational expenditures while improving energy efficiency.

Within the neutral host scenario, the two key deployment models CSPs can adopt are the Shared Radio model and the Shared RAN model. In the Shared Radio model, CSPs share the physical infrastructure—such as antennas and base stations—while maintaining control over their own spectrum and services. This approach reduces costs and ensures flexibility for CSPs to differentiate their offerings.

In contrast, the Shared RAN model goes a step further by allowing CSPs to share not only the infrastructure but also the spectrum and certain network components. This deeper level of sharing drives down costs and simplifies operations by optimizing spectrum utilization and improving network performance. Both models enable CSPs to deliver seamless indoor 5G coverage in high-traffic venues like stadiums or shopping malls while minimizing capital expenditure.

Such collaborative approaches promote faster deployment and ensure that the solutions remain sustainable for future business cases. These innovations enable CSPs to capitalize on the growing demand for 5G applications within the enterprise and consumer markets.

5G is transforming the fan experience in sports venues

In the third episode of the Imagine Studio Unboxed series, we showcase how indoor 5G connectivity can provide fans with a richer and more interactive experience in ice hockey arenas. What if you could order food from your seat or watch live replays from different camera angles on your phone, all without any lag? This is not just about following the game but enhancing the entire event experience.

Clubs and venues can now offer premium, immersive experiences to fans, regardless of their seating location. A fan sitting in the last row of the stadium can enjoy advanced features like Multi-view technology, which allows them to switch between multiple camera angles and catch every detail of the action in real time. 5G’s high-speed connectivity and low latency enhance the overall fan experience while generating new revenue streams for CSPs.

Looking ahead: the future of indoor connectivity

Indoor 5G does more than deliver seamless connectivity—it creates new consumer experiences. From sports fans enjoying a game to shoppers in a mall orseamless video conferencing in hybrid workplaces. 5G enhances how we interact with the spaces around us. By focusing on improved performance, faster speeds, and innovative services, 5G is setting the stage for the future of indoor experiences.

As we continue exploring the potential of 5G indoors, we see a world where connectivity is no longer a barrier but an enabler. From businesses boosting their operations to consumers enjoying richer experiences, indoor 5G transforms how we connect and engage in our daily lives.

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