Radio signal propagation and attenuation measurements for modern residential buildings

Abstract

This paper outlines problems that cellular network operators will face as energy-efficient housing becomes more popular. We report measurement results from houses made of modern construction materials that are required to achieve sufficient level of energy-efficiency, but that impact heavily also on radio signal propagation. Energy-efficiency is especially important in northern countries, where houses need to be properly isolated as heating generates a big share of the total energy consumption of households. However, the energy-efficiency trend will also reach rest of the Europe and other warmer countries as the tightening energy-efficiency requirements concern also cooling the houses. The measurement results indicate severe problems originating from radio signal attenuation as it increases up to 35 dB for individual construction materials for cellular frequencies around 2 GHz. From the perspective of actual building penetration losses in modern, energy-efficient houses, average attenuation values even up to 30 dB have been measured. Additional attenuation is very sensitive to buildings materials, but could jeopardize cellular coverage in the future.