Why
CRE Still Needs 4G Infrastructure
The
Challenge of 5G Indoors
Unlike 4G, which uses lower-frequency bands that can penetrate walls and buildings, 5G primarily relies on highfrequency waves that struggle with indoor penetration. This means that unless a building is equipped with a dense network of indoor 5G nodes, coverage can be spotty or even nonexistent—leading to connectivity issues for tenants and businesses.
The promise of 5G has been heavily marketed as a gamechanger for connectivity, offering ultra-fast speeds and low latency. However, for commercial real estate (CRE) owners, the reality is far more complex. While 5G has its advantages, its limitations especially for indoor coverage make it a costly and often impractical solution for immediate deployment.
Instead, 4G Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and small cell solutions remain the most reliable and scalable investment for CRE owners.
The High Cost of Full 5G
Deployment
Upgrading to full 5G coverage requires significant infrastructure investments, including:
Densified small cell networks throughout a building to compensate for 5G’s short range.
Fiber backhaul upgrades to support highspeed 5G connections.
New in-building infrastructure to improve penetration and reduce dead zones.
These costs can be prohibitive, especially when most tenants still rely on 4G LTE networks for daily operations.
While 5G adoption is growing, 4G LTE remains the dominant wireless standard, and its infrastructure is far more costeffective to implement today.
A robust 4G DAS or small cell network provides:
✔ Reliable indoor coverage without the need for extensive infrastructure overhauls.
✔ Scalability, allowing buildings to gradually integrate 5G as demand increases.
✔ Cost efficiency, avoiding the immediate expenses of full 5G deployment.
In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, the push for everfaster cellular speeds has become relentless, with 5G often promoted as a must-have upgrade. However, for everyday activities like browsing social media, streaming music, or messaging, 4G speeds are more than sufficient.
While the pressure to upgrade can be strong, it’s worth pausing to consider whether ultrahigh-speed connectivity genuinely benefits your needs. Rather than chasing the latest technology for its own sake, ask yourself if faster speeds will truly enhance your experience or if it’s simply the appeal of staying ahead.
The Bottom Line
While 5G is the future, it’s not yet a practical or necessary investment for most commercial properties. CRE owners looking to enhance connectivity should prioritize 4G DAS and small cell solutions, ensuring strong, reliable coverage now while keeping their buildings 5G-ready for when the technology becomes more viable and affordable.
“Intenna Systems designs, builds and maintains some of the most complex indoor wireless networks available in the enterprise and service provider segments of the industry. Over two decades of experience provide our staff with unparalleled knowledge in designing, building, optimizing and maintaining customized distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cell solutions to fit your specific needs. We are distinguished by our commitment to quality and delivering the right solution to meet our customers’ diverse communications needs.”
Founded in 1998, Intenna Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of customized, cost-effective, in-building wireless networks. With over two decades of design and deployment experience, Intenna continues to provide comprehensive cellular and public safety network DAS solutions to an impressive resume of healthcare, corporate, hospitality, public venue and government clients nationwide. We are distinguished by our unparalleled experience, ability to navigate challenging environments, commitment to quality and customer focus. Reach out to Intenna today to learn how we can help you create the wireless environment that your employees, customers and patients now require.