Tell me if you’ve heard this one. Supposedly AT&T, Verizon, and other cellular carriers don’t want you to put a cellular signal booster into your office. The cell booster doesn’t make them any money and it increases the traffic to their cell sites, which are already overloaded. The story goes on to say that cell carriers design their coverage maps to make sure people inside get a great signal but people inside, well they’re on their own. They would rather that people inside their homes and offices use Wi-Fi Calling. Wi-Fi Calling decreases the load on the cellular network by shifting it to internet service providers (who, in many cases, aren’t the same people as the cell providers.
Except, that’s a load of horsehockey.
Over and over, executives from both Verizon and US Cellular have confirmed that when they plan their cell coverage for an area they consider indoor users as well as outdoor users. There is no secret conspiracy to stop you from using your phone inside your office, it’s just that buildings themselves are not really designed to let cell signals in. And you would think that by now, when we’ve all had cell service for a full generation, that would change. Instead, the matter has gotten worse.
Energy efficient construction is the enemy of cell service. The same building materials that block heat and cold from getting into your building will block cell signals very effectively. The trend toward “tilt-up” concrete construction in the 21st century has also had a negative impact. While the goal was once a building with as much glass as possible, now there is far more reinforced concrete. It’s the reinforcement that’s often the problem.
How to fix bad cell service in your office
In past years, if you worked in a very large office building, you would probably contract directly with a cell company to try to get cell coverage indoors, and in a lot of cases the cost to you was very small. However, in recent years those “sweetheart deals” have dried up and the feeling today is that it’s up to the building owners themselves to provide good cell coverage. This might be part of the reason that it’s taking a little longer to make sure everyone has a good signal.
However, I think everyone (even the most miserly building owner) realizes how important cellular service is. An in-building cellular signal booster like the ones you can get from SolidSignal is the best way to make sure that all phones are getting great signal, not just the ones from one carrier. It’s also a lot less expensive than working with a carrier today, and it takes less time jumping through hoops.
If you get poor reception at your desk, you really need to find a way to explain to the building owner or facilities manager about a cellular booster system. It’s as important as a coffee machine or an internet connection, at the very least. When they’re ready, have them call Solid Signal at 888-233-7563. We’ll design a custom-designed system that will meet their expectations and their price point. We’re here to take care of you during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!
