The telecommunications industry is faced with an urgent dilemma in regards to coverage capability for consumers. The market has been inundated with connected devices over the past several years—6.4 billion are estimated to be in use this year, a 30 percent increase from 2015. More alarming, that number is anticipated to reach nearly 21 billion by 2020.
In order to meet demand, providers have been tasked with increasing coverage and connectivity. That process can occur in several ways:
- Companies can purchase and allocate spectrum to underserved or overburdened geographical locations.
- Telecoms providers can invest in technology to make existing spectrum more efficient to enable greater volume without negatively impacting connectivity.
- Capacity can also be increased with the addition of more sites for cell towers.
While these three solutions are possible, they come with their own set of challenges as well. Spectrum availability cannot keep up with demand and has led the FCC to begin auctioning unlicensed spectrum, which can create a conflict between technologies such as 4G and LTE.
Research itself takes time, meaning that any developments that arise to increase the efficiency of existing spectrum won’t bear fruit for some time. Investing in more cell towers seems the simplest answer, but is very costly, permanent and may prove inefficient as consumer needs change, more buildings are constructed and landscape that changes continually and in the process blocking more and more signals from cell sites.
As a result of the complexity facing telecoms providers, many consumers are looking for their own answers and are finding relief in the form of signal boosters.
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According to SignalBooster.com representative, devices can be placed conveniently inside a car, home or business to amplify slow or poor connections and provide robust connectivity consumers have come to expect today. He said that with cellular amplifiers, there is no reason wait for telecom companies to provide the solution. However, it still does not address the cell phone dead zone problem when walking down the street.
At home, signal boosters can provide the support necessary to take advantage of many of the devices in use today. From laptops, smartphones and even video game consoles, users struggling with inadequate connectivity can resolve their issues conveniently with a signal booster.
Furthermore, they will be empowered to increase the use of smart home devices that have begun to hit the market, from smart surveillance systems to energy-regulating thermostats or even kitchen appliances.
Businesses, though, may be the hardest hit by slow network densification efforts. The rise of remote and mobile workforces has created an environment built for seamless communications and workforce optimization. Organizations that rely on a fleet force are especially vulnerable when inadequate coverage persists.
But businesses cannot put their earnings on the back burner until telecoms companies resolve the challenge of network densification, so signal boosters represent an affordable and convenient solution.
Neal Serrano is the CSO of SignalBooster.com.
