In-building Wireless Market

In-building wireless is a comprehensive cellular solution designed to ensure cell service coverage throughout a building without requiring upgrades to existing services or devices. The need for robust indoor network coverage is crucial for owners, managers, tenants, and network administrators, as it enhances workforce productivity, improves customer experience, streamlines business operations, and ensures security. More than 70–80% of mobile calls and data traffic have been generated inside the premises, driving businesses to implement in-building wireless technologies, such as distributed antenna systems and small cells. Certain building materials, such as e-glass, dense concrete, and walls with fluffy insulation, naturally obstruct cell signals. With an in-building wireless system, signals from distant towers can be amplified and distributed to every building device without needing Wi-Fi calling apps or device upgrades. The in-building wireless market has been evolving from traditional to digital technologies and has ramped up across enterprises, commercial campuses, real estate, and stadiums.

Distributed small cells are projected to witness the fastest growth, driven by their agility, ease of deployment, and superior capacity handling in dense indoor settings. These systems are effective in medium-sized buildings such as university campuses, logistics centers, and corporate hubs where traditional DAS may be overbuilt or cost-prohibitive. For instance, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi transitioned from a passive DAS setup to distributed small cells across three academic blocks and two residential towers.

Service providers continue to lead the in-building wireless market due to their end-to-end control over spectrum, deployment, and service management, allowing them to offer integrated solutions that enterprises and public institutions increasingly prefer. Their dominance is reinforced by the scale and pace at which they roll out public and private network infrastructures. For instance, AT&T has launched its On-Demand In-Building Connectivity service, specifically designed for commercial buildings. This service provides a managed distributed antenna system (DAS) and small cell bundle that encompasses installation, operation, and maintenance. By doing so, it effectively mitigates deployment challenges for property owners, streamlining the process for enhanced connectivity solutions. Similarly, Verizon partnered with Mayo Clinic to implement public-safety DAS and private 5G networks to support critical healthcare applications within their facilities

Medium-sized buildings such as hospitals, university buildings, mid-rise offices, and logistics warehouses are increasingly driving in-building wireless growth due to their optimal balance between scale and complexity. These structures are large enough to require robust wireless infrastructure but not as capital-intensive or deployment-heavy as sprawling campuses or stadiums. For instance, DHL Express recently equipped its 120,000 sq. ft. warehousing hub in Malaysia with distributed small cells and repeaters to power indoor asset tracking and autonomous forklifts, resulting in a 40% reduction in manual handling time and improved operational accuracy

Private networks are witnessing explosive growth within the in-building wireless market, as enterprises seek greater control, security, and customization of their wireless infrastructure. Enabled by spectrum frameworks such as CBRS in the US and localized licensing in Germany and Japan, private networks empower businesses to tailor indoor connectivity to mission-critical applications without relying on public carriers. For instance, John Deere’s manufacturing plant in Iowa deployed a private 5G network to support predictive maintenance, machine vision, and real-time production analytics, all running over a low-latency in-building wireless backbone. In logistics, UPS implemented a private cellular network across its sorting hubs to ensure uninterrupted tracking, automated sorting, and robotic navigation in highly dynamic indoor environments

Commercial campuses are emerging as the primary demand centers for in-building wireless solutions due to their scale, tenant density, and increasing reliance on real-time digital services. These environments typically comprise multiple interconnected buildings and require seamless indoor coverage for mobile communication and IoT applications, enterprise-grade video conferencing, access control, and AI-driven facility management. For instance, Amazon’s new HQ2 campus in Arlington integrates a mix of DAS, distributed small cells, and private 5G to support hybrid workspaces, high-bandwidth applications, and tenant-specific network slices. Additionally, Brookfield Properties began deploying carrier-neutral in-building wireless systems across several US campuses, enabling multi-operator support without service disruption. The push for smart building certifications, such as LEED and WELL, is accelerating investment in wireless infrastructure to meet indoor air quality monitoring, occupancy tracking, and sustainability compliance. As commercial real estate operators focus on long-term digital readiness and tenant retention, they increasingly view in-building wireless as a competitive utility, driving its position as the segment with the largest market footprint