By Juan Pedro Tomás

Corning announced the launch of new cellular solutions designed to help network operators to offer reliable 5G connection indoors with small-cell radio nodes.

In a release, the company noted that 80 per cent of mobile traffic originates or terminates indoors, and some 5G frequencies do not penetrate physical barriers, such as walls, as well as 4G/LTE frequencies. With the demand on bandwidth intensifying, network operators will require reliable systems that bring 5G indoors, Corning said.

Corning’s Everon mmWave indoor small-cell systems are designed to deliver 5G-ready coverage in high-density environments – including office buildings, factories, hotels, hospitals, and classrooms – where large amounts of data must be managed and transmitted. These systems are designed to operate at commonly used frequencies, including 28 GHz and 39 GHz, the company added.

“As more people return to offices, college campuses, hotels, and other highly concentrated environments, Corning’s mmWave indoor small-cell systems are critical to meeting the growing demand for reliable 5G connectivity,” said vice president and wireless business leader, Corning Optical Communications, Marc Bolick,. “Corning is working side by side with our customers to help them capture and realize the opportunities of 5G.”

The new in-building cellular products are part of Corning’s Everon Network Solutions, a new suite of optical network components for enterprise deployment. Corning also said it will launch additional products in the Everon portfolio in the coming months.

In December 2020, Verizon Business and Corning announced they had begun commercial installations of in-building 5G millimeter-wave cell sites for enterprise customers.

At the time of the launch, Verizon said that WeWork was one of the first companies in the world to have signed a contract with Verizon Business to provide Corning’s indoor 5G cells, with ten WeWork locations across the US set to receive installations.

Corning’s indoor cell site is designed to provide Verizon’s 5G mmWave service inside facilities such as hospitals, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, schools, ports, commercial office space, retail stores and any indoor environment where large amounts of data traffic must be managed and optimized.