Electronics manufacturers and distributors say wireless carriers are beginning to cautiously embrace third-party signal amplifiers they once kept at arm’s length.
Inconsistent service has long plagued the cell-phone industry, as consumers often expect fixed-line quality on wireless handsets. Sporadic coverage and dropped calls are consistently cited by consumers disappointed with their cellular service. Consumer satisfaction with wireless is down 3 percent, according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index-only cable- and satellite-TV providers fared worse in the annual survey.
While equipment like external antennas and signal boosters can help improve reception in user’s homes, cars and offices, though, those pieces of equipment also can result in increased interference on cell sites. The increased “noise level” on networks can result in lesser signal quality for other subscribers and give operators customer-relations headaches.
“One of the problems with the in-building space is that if products are not engineered properly, they will affect networks,” said Bruce Clark, general manager of sales for Wilson Cellular. “There’s a big reluctance (on the part of carriers) to keep them off the system.”
Carriers aren’t just reluctant to see people using extra equipment that can affect their networks, they’re reluctant even to discuss the topic. Several operators declined requests to comment on this story from RCR Wireless News. Part of that reticence, of course, is a lack of willingness to address weaknesses in coverage.
Carriers are frightened for good reason, said Vicky Wilson, Wilson Cellular vice president. They don’t want to lose customers who may not get adequate coverage in a particular area, yet a bad amplifier can wreak havoc on a carrier’s network.
But operators’ hesitancy to put new equipment on their networks is clashing with what appears to be a growing demand for signal enhancers-and it’s not just rural users who are struggling to get good reception. Ironically, many coverage issues occur in densely populated urban areas where overlapping base stations can interfere with one another. Other urban obstacles include buildings and foliage, as well as residential neighborhoods that ban cell towers. Even a strong signal can be diminished when a user climbs into a car.
So in an effort to reduce churn, operators are quietly working with developers to certify and deploy effective equipment that doesn’t interfere with wireless networks.
“(Cellular equipment) dealers have come to us and said, `We need a solution,”‘ said Clark. “The carriers have done an about-face. They say, `We don’t want boosters on our system unless they’re approved.”‘ As such, one U.S. carrier has approved Wilson Cellular products for sale through its indirect channels, and the manufacturer has had good luck with carriers in Canada approving its products on their systems.
Wilson also can customize its devices to meet carrier specifications.
