Indoor Mobile Connectivity Now a ‘Fourth Utility’ — Experts Call for Stronger Infrastructure and Independent Validation

Executives from Proptivity and the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) joined Ookla, a global leader in connectivity intelligence, today at MWC Barcelona to explore technology, policy, and business trends around the provisioning of indoor connectivity, highlighting the importance of independent validation as it has become essential for business and is increasingly critical for public safety.

The panel ‘Measuring, Optimising, and Validating In-Building Cellular Connectivity’, hosted by Ookla, highlighted the need for dedicated indoor mobile infrastructure to address coverage challenges due to modern construction standards and discussed the role of neutral hosts and the shifting economic models.

Moderated by Karim Yaici, Industry Analyst at Ookla, the session featured Alberto Hernando, Global Head of Densification at Cellnex; Mikael Lundman, CEO at Proptivity; and Mike Saperstein, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Chief Strategy Officer at WIA.

The panel highlighted that while Wi-Fi is suitable for “best effort” traffic, licensed 5G is a must-have for consumers and commercial use cases and is increasingly important for public safety and emergency services.

The panellists argued that dedicated indoor cellular infrastructure is no longer a luxury but a “fourth utility”. They also emphasised the importance of independent validation of connectivity performance to ensure predictability across entire buildings and bridge the gap between expected and actual indoor user experience.

Alberto Hernando, Global Head of Densification at Cellnex, says that “poor in-building mobile coverage has real consequences for the employee whose AI tools fail at the critical moment, the shopper stuck at the counter because the app won’t load, and the person in an emergency facing silence when every second counts.”” For venue owners, the cost is equally real: lost productivity, lost sales, and safety risks no one can afford. At Cellnex, we have built a European-scale neutral host platform withplatform with one infrastructure, multiple operators, flexible funding, and no building left behind.”

Mikael Lundman, CEO of Proptivity, says, “We spend most of our lives indoors, yet indoor mobile performance is still often assumed rather than designed. In modern office buildings, tenants and visitors expect their mobile services to work seamlessly, but too often they work poorly or not at all. At the same time, an estimated 30% of new business laptops now ship with built-in 5G. Mobile connectivity is no longer optional infrastructure; when it fails indoors, it impacts productivity and ultimately reduces the value of the building.”

“The demand from consumers is clear: seamless indoor connectivity is indispensable and will only grow in the AI era,” said Mike Saperstein, senior vice president, government affairs, and chief strategy officer, Wireless Infrastructure Association. “The WIA In-Building Forum’s recent survey shows consumers are not only using mobile data indoors for going online, texting, video chatting, and checking social media, but also more than 35% are using AI applications. That’s a huge uptick. The AI era is now, and in-building connectivity is a critical part of the consumer experience.”

“The economics of in-building connectivity are fundamentally shifting, empowering real estate managers to leverage multi-operator neutral host networks and treat indoor cellular as an essential building utility,” said Karim Yaici, industry analyst at Ookla.

ABOUT OOKLA®

Ookla, a global leader in connectivity intelligence, brings together the trusted expertise of Speedtest®, Downdetector®, Ekahau®, and RootMetrics® to deliver unmatched network and connectivity insights. By combining multi-source data with industry-leading expertise, we transform network performance metrics into strategic, actionable insights.

Our solutions empower service providers, enterprises, and governments with the critical data and insights needed to optimise networks, enhance digital experiences, and help close the digital divide. At the same time, we amplify the real-world experiences of individuals and businesses that rely on connectivity to work, learn, and communicate. From measuring and analysing connectivity to driving industry innovation, Ookla helps the world stay connected.

Ookla is a division of Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD), a vertically focused digital media and internet company whose portfolio includes leading brands in technology, shopping, gaming and entertainment, health and wellness, connectivity, cybersecurity, and martech.

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