Disguise in the skies: Can reflective film hide small cells?

Network densification and small cells are on the roadmaps of every major U.S. operator, but those maps will need to include some hiding places along the way. Small cell concealment is a growing part of the wireless industry as Americans want full bars and ubiquitous coverage, but often don’t want to look at the infrastructure that enables the experience.
Unlike cell towers, small cells need to be located close to the end user. Even though they may be well above ground level, installations on street poles often come under more scrutiny than tower top installations. Deployments in the public rights of way require negotiations with municipal agencies and city planners who may be highly sensitive to aesthetics.
“There is a big opposition from municipalities, from communities and that is somehow restricting or constraining the deployment of the networks,” said Omar Flores, global business manager at 3M. As a longtime manufacturer of equipment for tower climbers, 3M keeps a close eye on the wireless infrastructure industry. Flores said the company’s most recent research found the No. 1 problem facing the industry is site acquisition, which inspired 3M to develop a concealment solution.
“We have developed a unique film that allows the industry to conceal infrastructure which enables mobile operators to deploy and blend networks for reduced visual pollution with no radio frequency interference,” Flores said. The new 3M film is said to reflect all visible light and uses 3M adhesives made famous years ago by the Post-It note. The company says the metal-free film allows radio waves to pass through without any obstruction or interference. The adhesive is “initially repositionable,” implying that technicians can adjust it until the position is right.
The film consists of five layers: an adhesive liner, which is removed at installation; a permanent adhesive layer; a polymeric mirror layer; a protective top layer; and a protective liner, which is removed after installation. The company said the film can withstand temperatures ranging from 70 degrees Celsius to negative 55 degrees Celsius.
The company enters a crowded field as it brings its concealment solution to market. ConcealFab and Stealth Concealment are two companies that have already built businesses around hiding wireless infrastructure. Antenna vendors are also creating solutions to hide their own equipment. CommScope offers a range of concealment solutions and Kathrein has developed a manhole cover it says can hide an antenna underground.
Despite the competition, 3M is confident the concealment solution market is the right place to be innovating when it comes to tower technology. Flores said the company conducts annual research on tower technology pain points, and this year for the first time the No. 1 industry problem was not a technical issue.
“Site acquisition last year became the number one challenge of the industry,” he said. “We all want to have those five bars on our cell phone, but nobody wants to have those antennas and those radios next to us, for different reasons. One of the main reasons, at least in the U.S., is aesthetics.”