Originally posted to TelecomNewsroom.
Northeast DAS & Small Cell Association’s (NEDAS) upcoming New York City Summit on September 6, 2018 will cover a wide range of topics including Public Safety. John Foley, the General Manager of the Safer Buildings Coalition, an independent, non-profit organization focused on advancing policies, ideas and technologies that ensure comprehensive in-building communications capabilities for Public Safety and the people they serve. In our discussion, Foley provided his insight on the changes in the in-building wireless industry these past 12 months and provided his insights on the future of where it may all be headed.
TelecomNewsroom (TNR) Q1: How has the in-building wireless industry changed in the past 12 months?
John Foley (JF) A1: In many ways. What is on my radar are the following six key initiatives: carriers continue to marshal their capital and engineering firms tell me their volume is up – which signals more projects coming in the near term; Public Safety DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) and Repeater Systems continue to grow as more and more fire and building code officials implement IFC (International Fire Code) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) codes required of them. The trend is driving enforcement by more jurisdictions therefore driving more system deployments; Florida is requiring that all (including existing) buildings comply with in-building booster codes by 2022 (with some exceptions)[1]; Enterprise continues to be on the hook for funding; New 3PO and hybrid finance models are emerging; and finally, FirstNet realities are driving AT&T to take a closer look at in-building commercial cellular coverage (for AT&T bands). I think we ought to look for AT&T to roll out guidance on this in the next six months.
To read the full interview, please click here.
