Julie Song, President at Advanced RF Technologies (ADRF), responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company globally.
Each new wireless generation brings higher expectations for improving personal and professional experiences with connectivity. Today, consumers rely on mobile devices for virtually everything such as banking, shopping and stock trading, so it isn’t unreasonable to expect mobile speeds to be on par. This is especially true in airports, where most of the fundamental operations rely on wireless technology.
High data speeds are indispensable for passengers utilizing mobile apps for ticketing, contactless transactions, real-time notifications, navigation and accessing essential information. Wireless connectivity also underpins high-definition screens, information kiosks, self-service stations, baggage tracking systems and various other terminal services. Furthermore, airport staff depend on rapid data speeds for efficient communication and asset management. Given this extensive reliance on wireless, any disruptions or inefficiencies in speed can lead to passenger frustration, dissatisfaction and potential gate delays.
Yet the results of a recent Ookla report, which analyzed the download speeds, upload speeds and latency for Wi-Fi and mobile data for over 50 of the world’s busiest airports, revealed the United States is falling behind in mobile speeds compared to the rest of the world.
U.S. Airport Mobile Support Lags Compared To Wi-Fi
The reason for this isn’t because mobile is less effective than Wi-Fi. Global mobile data speeds significantly outpaced Wi-Fi, with 14 airports exhibiting higher median download speeds on mobile compared to the fastest Wi-Fi speeds recorded at any airport. In the first quarter of 2024, Hamad International Airport in Qatar achieved the highest median mobile download speed, reaching an impressive 442.49 Mbps. Notable other international airports included Shanghai Hongqiao at 341.19 Mbps, Phoenix Sky Harbor at 295.94 Mbps, Shanghai Pudong at 264.71 Mbps, Chongqing Jiangbei at 258.42 Mbps and Istanbul at 255.51 Mbps.
Yet only two U.S. airports in the report surpassed 200 Mbps in mobile data download speeds: Phoenix Sky Harbor and Logan International Airports. Conversely, nine U.S. airports reported mobile download speeds below 100 Mbps. This starkly contrasts Wi-Fi performance, where the seven fastest airports for downloads and six of the fastest airports for uploads were all in the U.S.
Despite the higher speeds, increasing privacy and security concerns are steering users away from public Wi-Fi networks. According to a 2023 Forbes Advisor survey, 43% of Americans who regularly use public Wi-Fi have experienced online security breaches. Moreover, using personal mobile data not only provides greater security but also eliminates the inconvenience of signing in or using a VPN, making it a more appealing choice.
The disparity in high-speed mobile data achievable between the U.S. and its Eastern counterparts underscores a deficiency in the implementation of an advanced wireless strategy in U.S. airports—one that invests in the proper infrastructure to ensure seamless connectivity.
Challenges With Mobile Connectivity
In fairness, airports present a distinct array of challenges for high-speed cellular data transmission, requiring heavy investment. Typically, cell towers are situated away from airports to prevent interference with aircraft flight paths, especially during takeoff and landing, which can diminish wireless signal strength and mobile data speeds. Moreover, airport facilities are often constructed with materials that hinder wireless signal transmission, including thick walls, LEED-certified glass and steel structures, making it difficult for radio frequencies (RF) to penetrate from external networks into the buildings.
Passenger density also adds another layer of difficulty. During peak travel times, the high volume of people passing through airports can strain cellular networks and minimize data speeds. This issue is exacerbated by the vast size of airports, which requires a robust and scalable in-building wireless network to provide coverage throughout terminals, concourses and even remote areas like runways and hangars, where essential functions such as air traffic control and airport operations are carried out.
Given these complexities, the Ookla report findings about an overall weakened state of U.S. mobile speeds are hardly surprising, and yet, it must still be improved as these are highly trafficked central transportation hubs for millions of people.
Potential Solutions
To address these challenges, airports should consider deploying wireless infrastructure that brings signals from the macro network into the facility and increases both coverage and capacity. Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) historically have been the optimal method for achieving robust connectivity that can cover the massive square footage of most airports. DAS operates from a single signal source and distributes radio RF across a network of antennas strategically placed throughout terminals, parking areas and administrative zones. This system enhances infrastructure efficiency while providing notable cost and space advantages. Its modular design allows DAS to deliver extensive coverage and seamless connectivity across all mobile data and private wireless RF bands, effectively serving vast areas that span hundreds of thousands of square feet.
Another method of providing cellular connectivity in airports is through the use of small cells. Small cells and their tiny form factor are excellent for providing capacity (e.g., the amount of traffic a network can manage) but not effective with coverage (e.g., the space or area a device has access to the network). This means it would produce excellent coverage if enough were deployed, but it would be significantly more expensive—especially when considering small cells are single-carrier specific, whereas DAS provides signals from all major mobile carriers in one system.
As international visitation to the United States increased by 246% to 66.5 million from 2020 to 2023, and passenger traffic at airports is projected to grow by 158% by 2040, U.S. airports must ensure their mobile data infrastructure can accommodate the increasing volume of travelers and the expanding use of advanced technologies. Providing a seamless wireless experience that supports both the influx of passengers and the sophisticated technological demands within these facilities is imperative.
Julie Song