Axell Wireless Identified as Next Generation Market Leader in Global Wireless In-Building Market
Axell Wireless Named in ABI Research Report that Reveals Surge in Industry Spend on DAS for ‘In-Building’ Applications
Operators are moving their networks indoors to cater for the growing demand for mobile broadband and data access in-building. ABI Research has revealed that the global market for in-building wireless equipment is set to amass to over $2 billion by 2013 and the report identifies Axell Wireless as a key market leader in terms of product innovation and operator acceptance. The company is responsible for several high profile in-building installations, including the Channel Tunnel, Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, the Pentagon in the United States, the Royal Places in Oman and the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Axell Wireless’ active DAS (Distributed Antenna System) products are used to propagate wireless coverage around confined spaces including office blocks, shopping centres, hotels, power plants, airports, stadiums and even underground train networks – in essence all indoor locations that house large numbers of mobile users or where public safety communications is critical. ABI Research ranks Axell Wireless as the largest DAS provider in the European market, based on its revenues, and rapidly closing in on its North American rivals due to its unique and well established ability to provide in-building coverage for both cellular and public safety wireless services.
LTE 4G services – in effect “mobile broadband” – has played a key part in this elevated level of in-building investment, but it is important to note that these increased revenues are not the sole result of an LTE gold rush. The industry also recognises the need to support multiple frequency bands, including 2G and 3G services from within buildings as that is where circa 80% of mobile traffic now emanates – a huge change from just a few years ago. In order to fulfil ABI Research’s predictions, and deliver comprehensive in-building coverage, DAS technology must be capable of supporting both multiple frequency bands and multiple technologies for mobile and public safety operators.
Axell Wireless’ CEO, Ian Brown, has witnessed, first hand, the high levels of operator and enterprise investment in DAS technology. Brown commented: “The proliferation of smartphone technology and the explosion in mobile data usage, especially from within buildings, is now driving an industry-wide trend to invest in DAS technology. At Axell Wireless, we are witnessing this trend first hand, as DAS systems are now representing the fastest growing segment of the in-building wireless market. Both the development of LTE services and the continued and growing need to provide wireless coverage for the emergency services in many buildings is playing a key role in this increased investment. Axell is already deploying multiband, multi-technology DAS systems for global mobile operators, leading enterprises and public safety authorities and this trend looks set to continue.”
The necessity to invest in in-building wireless solutions has been further underlined by UK regulator, Ofcom’s, recent stipulation that in-building 4G coverage must be available to 98 per cent of the UK population by 2017.
