How Giant Skyscrapers are Achieving Strong 5G Coverage

Modern skyscrapers are architectural achievements, but can also test the limits of telecommunications and connectivity systems given their height.

With this in mind, a recent report from insights firm Ookla used its Cell Analytics platform to benchmark the indoor 5G coverage experience in nine of the most iconic skyscrapers worldwide.

Its analysis found that ​​5G indoor coverage across the nine skyscrapers reveals that most buildings provide superior 5G signal strength, as well as excellent network quality. 

The top-performing buildings for coverage included Shanghai Tower, Burj Khalifa and the Empire State Building, with the latter two showing the least difference in 5G signal strength and quality between the lowest and highest floors.

How Ookla conducted its analysis

By analysing the average Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), a measure of network signal strength and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), an indicator of signal quality, Ookla’s report provides crucial insights into the signal strength and quality that subscribers experience within high-rise buildings.

The company’s analysis encompassed nine globally recognised skyscrapers, which were chosen for their distinctive architectural designs, worldwide influence and economic and cultural significance. 

The findings revealed that, while most skyscrapers provide robust 5G signal strength and network quality, some buildings still grapple with connectivity challenges. 

Shanghai Tower in particular recorded the strongest 5G signal among all buildings, with a weighted average RSRP of -71.04 dBm across all samples detected inside the building. This suggests a well-optimised indoor network, likely bolstered by China's extensive 5G infrastructure. 

“As China is one of the major leaders in 5G deployment, major urban centers like Shanghai benefit from advanced indoor network solutions, such as small cells and distributed antenna systems (DAS), ensuring strong coverage even in high-rise environments,” explains Affandy Johan, Senior Analyst at Ookla, within the report.

On the other hand, The Shard in London reported the weakest 5G coverage among the selected buildings, with an average RSRP of -96.69 dBm. Affandy suggests that the glass-heavy design of The Shard may contribute to this weaker performance, as glass can reflect and absorb mobile signals. 

Affandy notes: “The building also reported a much weaker signal strength in the lower 10% with RSRP value of -113 dBM, indicating that in certain areas of the building, users are experiencing poor 5G coverage and quality.”

Taking 5G to new heights

The report also compared 5G performance at two different height levels in each skyscraper: the bottom 10% of the building height, representing coverage on the lower floors and the top 10% of the building height to represent the highest levels. 

Several skyscrapers, including the Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building in New York City and Taipei 101 in Taiwan showed minimal differences in 5G signal strength and quality between the lowest and highest floors. 

The Burj Khalifa, however, did report a slight improvement from -77.09 dBm at the lower floors to -76.30 dBm at the top.

“In contrast, some skyscrapers exhibited noticeably larger differences between the lower and top floors RSRP and RSRQ, with weaker 5G signals at their higher levels,” Affandy shares. “This is mainly due to the lack of a dedicated indoor 5G coverage solution, with most 5G signals coming from outdoor cell towers. 

“It suggests that while the lower sections of these buildings benefit from stronger 5G coverage, the network infrastructure at the upper floors may not be as robust.”

Ookla’s report suggests that the importance of reliable 5G coverage in skyscrapers cannot be overstated. These structures serve as hubs for business development, in addition to being residential spaces and tourist attractions, making robust indoor 5G coverage essential for work, communication and entertainment. 

Obstacles to seamless connectivity, according to Ookla, lie within low-emissivity (Low-E) glass or other materials that may block or reflect radio frequencies. The report states there is therefore a need for dedicated indoor solutions such as small cell deployments, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and enhanced in-building network infrastructure.

An alternative to deploying in-building 5G systems is to selectively offload usage to Wi-Fi, provided these systems are designed, optimised and operated to deliver an equivalent quality of experience, the report states.

“As 5G continues to evolve, telecom providers and building developers must collaborate to improve indoor network quality, ensuring that users at all levels of a skyscraper experience fast, stable and uninterrupted connectivity,” Affandy says.

“For operators, 5G indoor deployments are a strategic avenue to monetise their investments through advances such as massive IoT, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and fixed wireless access (FWA), which will all play an important role in transformation across sectors such as industrial automation, retail applications and smart cities.

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