T-Mobile and AGC test transparent glass antennas

T-Mobile in the Czech Republic and AGC have successfully completed a series of tests of WAVEATTOCH®, a new type of antenna for mobile networks. The WAVEATTOCH antenna was designed to be installed directly and easily on glazed facades. Once implemented, it helps improve the quality of coverage and the capacity of mobile networks, including 5G, in particular in historic city centers where the environment does not lend itself to the installation of conventional antennas on the walls of buildings. In glass and therefore transparent, the WAVEATTOCH antenna fits harmoniously and discreetly into the urban landscape.

Meeting the capacity requirements of current mobile networks and future 5G technology, especially in dense areas, is a major challenge for telecom operators. In addition to representing a costly investment in time and money, the installation of conventional antennas on the exterior walls of buildings frequently comes up against strict rules for the protection of heritage. That's why T-Mobile and AGC joined forces to test the Glass Antenna, a unique and innovative development from AGC.

The antennas have been tested at the same time as another original solution from AGC: WAVETHRU®, a double glazing whose surface has been treated in such a way as to allow radio signals to enter buildings more effectively and circulate there better. . WAVETHRU reduces the signal attenuation as it passes through the glazed layer by a factor of 10 to 100 (depending on the frequency band of the signal), while maintaining its excellent thermal insulation properties. Far from being limited to the construction sector, this solution can also be applied to trains.

“This idea of ​​using antennas to be installed on glass facades immediately appealed to me; this is why I wanted to conduct this feasibility test to fully understand its advantages. This technique can indeed open up new possibilities for network deployment, primarily in historic urban centers such as Prague. In addition, it will allow us to improve the coverage and capacity of the network at key points ”, says Thomas Schweinhuber, Head of International Access Engineering at T-Mobile Czech Republic.

“We have tailored our solution to T-Mobile's needs. This is how we added the new frequencies 1,8 and 2,1 GHz to the already existing higher bands (2,6 to 6 GHz). The observations gathered during the tests are extremely fruitful for our expansion in Europe ”, says Philipp Jaeger.

The tests also included the installation of the WAVETHRU glazing. The WAVEATTOCH antennas were placed at a height of about 10 meters on the windows of the T-Mobile headquarters near the Roztyly metro station in Prague. At the same time, the existing double glazing of the windows has been replaced by a double glazing WAVETHRU, the surface treatment of which is intended to ensure the quality of communications inside the building. The tests focused on the 1.800 MHz and 2.100 MHz bands for voice and data services, more specifically on the 4G network. The 2x2 MIMO panel antennas used during the tests, which are completely transparent and fit in a very thin frame, are barely noticeable from the outside.

The first test results showed the feasibility of these two innovative solutions and highlighted functional concepts likely to help mobile operators and cities to better support the growing demand for high-speed mobile Internet access. The tests notably confirmed that the WAVETHRU glazing improved the quality and level of the signal at the locations chosen for the tests.