As 5G adoption increases, consumers and businesses expect the same level of coverage and performance wherever they go. Yet, the characteristics of 5G, which typically operates in mid-band frequencies of 1.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz, pose a challenge for indoor coverage, as these frequencies struggle to penetrate walls and windows depending on the materials used in construction. Therefore, operators need to invest in additional solutions to enhance indoor coverage and potentially offload onto in-building Wi-Fi systems. 

In the Gulf region, where shopping malls are central to the economic and social lifestyle, bridging the indoor-outdoor coverage gap is ever more important. In this article, we use data from Cell Analytics™ to benchmark indoor 5G coverage provided by seven mobile operators across 28 malls in Qatar (Doha), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah and Riyadh), and the U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) based on crowdsourced measurements collected between December 2022 and November 2023.

Key takeaways

• Good indoor coverage is vital for 5G more than for previous generations. Indoor 5G coverage is more crucial than ever since people spend 90% of their time indoors, and an increasing number of consumers and businesses depend on its availability and expect near gigabit speeds wherever they are.
• Top U.A.E. malls have superior indoor 5G coverage compared to top malls in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. du leads the way in the U.A.E. (particularly in Abu Dhabi), while in Saudi Arabia, Mobily has the edge in terms of the number of malls where it has better indoor 5G coverage. In Qatar, Ooredoo comes first for indoor coverage and its lead over Vodafone is more evident than in the other two countries.
• Efficient deployment of indoor network coverage solutions requires addressing non-technical challenges. Beyond cost and technical factors, operators must anticipate other issues when aiming to improve indoor coverage, such as site acquisition and permission and compliance, all of which can be facilitated through regulatory measures.

5G underscores the importance of indoor coverage more than previous generations of mobile technologies

Before 4G, mobile networks were designed primarily for outdoor voice coverage. That is why outdoor deployment took precedence over indoor coverage in previous generations of mobile networks since coverage maps were important marketing collateral to grow market shares. With 5G, consumers and businesses expect high-speed and consistent mobile connectivity everywhere. As they rely heavily on continuous 5G availability, operators are pressured to deliver a similar quality of experience indoors and outdoors. Delivering consistent high-speed data connectivity across both indoor and outdoor networks is far more challenging since the performance of a 5G network is limited by interference. 

5G is also the main data growth driver of usage for the operators and most of the usage is likely to be generated indoors. According to Ericsson, we spend 90% of our time indoors, and up to 80% of our data is consumed indoors. Therefore, operators should strive to improve coverage and capacity indoors if they want to capitalize on data growth, reduce churn, and support new consumer and business use cases.

Indeed, 5G enables a wide range of applications because it supports high bandwidth, low latency, and high device density. As 5G adoption increases, there will be more use cases where an excellent indoor 5G experience will be essential to end users and commercially beneficial to the operators. 

Technical and commercial reasons also explain why indoor 5G performance is typically inferior to outdoors. The mid-band frequencies (1.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz) used in 5G deployment do not effectively penetrate walls and windows. The increasing use of insulating materials and metal structures further hamper the propagation of radio waves. Furthermore, indoor network systems need to be designed to fit within the site-specific requirements for antenna placement, connectivity, and power distribution systems, minimize interference with careful coordination between adjacent sites, and connect more customers per square meter than outdoors which impacts network performance.

Commercially, operators have prioritized outdoor coverage because it requires less CAPEX and OPEX per subscriber compared to indoor coverage and has a better return on investment. Additionally, operators need to adapt their indoor network solution to suit different venues and building configurations, find other service providers to share deployment costs with, and convince venue owners to offset some of them.

Technical solutions exist to address the 5G coverage gap

Spectrum is arguably the most influential factor for 5G coverage and speed. High frequencies (shorter wavelengths) carry data faster but have a shorter range than lower frequencies, leading to lower coverage levels and inferior indoor quality of service.

Operators can opt for higher towers to cover a large area to compensate for the shorter range or adjust spectrum usage in specific areas to maximize coverage while not too negatively impacting performance.

Alternative technical solutions also exist to address indoor cellular coverage challenges (see table below). Most of these solutions were designed originally for 3G and 4G but were upgraded by increasing their power and the number of antennas to enable greater performance and improve spectral and energy efficiency. However, deploying some of these solutions can be complex and costly. For example, a DAS that supports MIMO costs multiple times a typical outdoor macro site. They may also lead to unnecessary duplication of infrastructure if operators do not share their assets.

Examples of solutions to improve indoor 5G coverage

Solution	Description	Limitations
Amplifiers	• Strengthen a weak external cellular signal by amplifying it inside the building	• Could cause interferences with signals from the macro cells
Small cells (microcells, picocells, and femtocells)	• Low-power antennas that provide localized coverage and add capacity in dense locations • Connected to the macro cell through backhaul	• More suitable for small indoor areas (e.g. a room or floor), not shopping malls • Not cost-effective to cover a large area
Distributed Antenna System (DAS)	• Set of antennas distributed around a venue to amplify the signal and provide consistent coverage and capacity throughout • DAS is connected to one or more base stations via cable	• Could be expensive and complex to deploy and upgrade due to the multiple radio heads and cable connections required
Private LTE/5G Networks	• Localized cellular networks deployed to offer customized indoor coverage and capacity solutions • Cater to specific indoor environments such as factories, warehouses, and corporate offices	• Acquiring dedicated spectrum is challenging and costly • Deployment complexity and cost can make it prohibitive for smaller organizations • Navigating regulatory frameworks can be challenging

Indoor 5G coverage is more vital in Gulf countries because shopping malls play an essential economic and social role

The Gulf region has been a global 5G pioneer. Most countries have attained nationwide 5G coverage by 2023. 5G penetration among mobile users has also skyrocketed since the beginning of 2022. It reached 28.11%, 22.48%, and 26.86% in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E. in Q3 2023, according to GSMA Intelligence.

Indoor network coverage is arguably more critical in the Gulf region. The high temperatures and long summers mean that people spend most of their time indoors, especially in shopping centers. These malls are the heart of the economic, social, and cultural life in the region for residents and tourists alike.

Aided by retail-friendly policies, such as low taxes and late opening times, malls experienced a boom in footfall and retail transactions. Despite the rapid rise in online shopping, especially after COVID-19 lockdowns, brick-and-mortar remains a pillar of national economies and accounts for the largest share of all retail transactions. The retail segment has also room to grow further as the retail gross leasable area (GLA) per capita across major GCC cities remains below that of developed markets like the U.S.A., despite being higher than other markets in the Middle East and North Africa.

5G connectivity inside the malls is not just crucial for consumers but also businesses. Stores can use the network to connect video cameras, point-of-sale (PoS) devices, and signage systems. Good indoor connectivity also enables shops to offer a hybrid retail experience, combining physical and digital sales channels. For example, customers can order items online for in-store pick-up. Indeed, nearly 60% of surveyed shoppers in the U.A.E. use their smartphones in-store to research products, compare prices, or look for offers. Excellent indoor 5G coverage also underpins future in-mall experiences that mix physical and digital interactions through technologies like AR/VR.

Operators and venue owners can also benefit from offering seamless connectivity in the malls. For example, operators can improve their brand image and prestige by associating themselves with iconic venues such as Dubai Mall in Dubai, Mall of Qatar in Doha, and Mall of Arabia in Jeddah. For landlords, exceptional indoor coverage and quality can serve as a key differentiator for the mall, potentially resulting in higher rental rates.

Operators can offload onto Wi-Fi as an alternative to extending 5G indoors, provided these systems are designed, optimized, and operated with equivalent quality of experience, using, for example, Ekahau®. While many malls in the region have Wi-Fi infrastructure, we believe that 5G complements rather than competes with Wi-Fi. Direct access to a 5G network offers more convenience for consumers and is intrinsically more secure than 4G or Wi-Fi.

The latest generations of Wi-Fi technology, including Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7, are likely to play a more pivotal role in enhancing indoor coverage thanks to their improved performance, higher speeds, and increased capacity. Wi-Fi’s seamless integration with cellular coverage enables the offloading of cellular traffic in congested areas, maintains connectivity in deep indoor locations, and provides a robust and interconnected network experience for users.

Major differences in indoor 5G coverage quality between malls, operators, and countries in the Gulf region

In this analysis, we examine the variations in the strength of indoor 5G coverage across select shopping malls in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E.. We use data from Cell Analytics based on crowdsourced measurements of consumers’ mobile devices worldwide. The tool captures RF measurement and data usage, both indoors and outdoors, enabling us to benchmark signal metrics and generate user density and competitive coverage difference maps.

We use the average Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) as a measure of network coverage. RSRP represents the network signal strength received by a mobile phone. An RSRP value that exceeds -90 dBm indicates superior coverage. If the signal strength is between -90 dBm and -100 dBm then network coverage is considered good. Lower RSRP values signify lower download speeds and an increased probability of network disconnection.

In the sections below, we examine 5G RSRP measurements inside major malls in Qatar (Doha), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah and Riyadh), and the U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) from December 2022 to November 2023. For each location, we compare operators’ RSRP values to determine which ones offer superior 5G coverage. We included locations where we received sufficient samples to achieve a confidence level of 95%.

du commands a lead in indoor 5G coverage in more U.A.E. malls than Etisalat by e&

The U.A.E. emerged as the fastest 5G market globally in Q2 2023, according to Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence®. This achievement was facilitated by an almost nationwide 5G coverage of the population. Both operators, du and Etisalat by e&, have sought to continually enhance customer experience by improving network coverage and quality.

du reported 98.5% 5G coverage of the population in November 2023 and attributed much of its CAPEX to 5G deployment and specifically to enhancing indoor coverage. For example, it has installed small cell antennas in apartments and offices and expanded DAS in new mall locations. It also launched 5G Standalone (SA) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) in 2023.

Etisalat by e& has managed to serve all main urban areas and highways across the country, with an estimated coverage of 97% in February 2023. It also made 5G Standalone (SA) services available for all mobile users in October 2023.

The chart below depicts indoor 5G RSRP values for du and Etisalat by e&, across 12 malls in Dubai and six others in Abu Dhabi. Both operators have the same number of malls in Dubai where they lead in indoor coverage. In Abu Dhabi, du consistently outperformed Etisalat by e& in terms of indoor coverage in all the malls we reviewed.

Overall, top U.A.E. malls have better indoor 5G coverage than those in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The weighted average RSRP per mall is at least -86 dBm in 9 out of the 18 locations analyzed, suggesting excellent indoor coverage. However, in some locations, such as Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of Emirates (for both operators), Wafi Mall and Yas Mall (for Etisalat by e&), and Dubai Mall (for du), the signal power is equal or less than -90 dBm.

du consistently outperforms Etisalat by e& in indoor 5G coverage across all the six malls in Abu Dhabi. For example, du is 10% better than Etisalat by e& in Khalidiya Mall and 8% better in Marina Mall.

The difference in signal power in Dubai locations is generally smaller, implying that consumers are unlikely to perceive a difference in 5G coverage while shopping there. For example, the RSRP gap between operators is inferior to 1.5 dBm in Deira City Mall, Festival City Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mirdif City Centre, and Wafi Mall. This could be because both operators share the same indoor coverage infrastructure in these malls to avoid duplication and to reduce costs.

Mobily and Zain are the frontrunners for indoor 5G coverage in Saudi malls

The Saudi Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) reported that 5G coverage reached 97 governorates in March 2023 (out of 136 governorates), up from 84 a year earlier. This is a substantial jump from the 35 governorates it first reported in Q2 2020.

This improvement is partially driven by the ongoing release of suitable spectrum for 5G. Indeed, operators had access to low-band spectrum (700 MHz and 800 MHz) from 4G that they could reuse for 5G, and auctions for 2.3 GHz, 2.6 GHz, and 3.5 GHz bands were completed in 2019. The CST also plans to auction 600 MHz, 700 MHz, and 3800 MHz bands in Q1 2024.

Operators have steadily invested in 5G infrastructure. stc reported that it provides 5G coverage to over 90% of its mobile site locations in major cities. In October 2023, it announced significant network investments to extend its reach to over 75 cities and governorates.

Similarly, Mobily expanded 5G rollout and network coverage as part of its growth strategy. Its 5G network covered 28 governorates in March 2023. For Zain, its 5G network had expanded to cover 64 cities and more than 62.5% of the population by the end of 2023.

The two charts below show indoor 5G RSRP values for Mobily, stc, and Zain across three malls in Riyadh and three others in Jeddah. Despite the large investments in 5G infrastructure and access to low-band spectrum, Cell Analytics reveals a weighted average RSRP of -95.5 dBm across the six surveyed malls, which is significantly lower than the weighted averages in Qatar and the U.A.E. at -85.3 dBm and -87.4 dBm, respectively.

Saudi Arabia is home to the five malls with the poorest indoor 5G coverage among the 28 malls analyzed in this article. The RSRP weighted averages ranged from -98.8 dBm in Al Salam Mall in Jeddah to -93.8 dBm in Riyadh Gallery Mall in Riyadh (the other lagging malls are Mall of Arabia and Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, and Al Nakheel Mall in Riyadh).

Mobily had better indoor 5G coverage than its competitors in three malls while Zain outperformed them in two of the malls. Mobily is quite ahead of its competitors in Mall of Arabia, one of the biggest malls in Saudi Arabia, with an RSRP of -92.8 dBm, a signal strength that is 6.5 dBm higher than Zain’s and 8.8 dBm stronger than stc’s.

Zain leads Mobily in two malls, Riyadh Gallery Mall and Red Sea Mall, by 2.4 dBm and 1.7 dBm, respectively. On the other hand, stc leads in 5G coverage inside Granada Center with an RSRP of -88.1 dBm, the highest signal power among the analyzed malls in Saudi Arabia. The RSRP difference between the three operators in the other malls varies between 3.3 dBm and 4.6 dBm, which suggests that operator choice can affect signal reception when shopping in these venues.

Ooredoo leads in 5G coverage inside the malls in Qatar

The organization of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 prompted Ooredoo and Qatar to modernize their 4G and 5G networks. For example, Ooredoo deployed over 8466 multi-beam antennas across eight stadiums to enhance indoor coverage, in addition to ‘smart poles’ and macro sites to boost coverage in surrounding areas. Ooredoo reported 533TB of mobile data during the competition, with nearly 40% via its 5G network. By the end of Q3 2023, its 5G network served 98.6% of the population.

Likewise, Vodafone nearly doubled its radio network sites, upgraded the existing sites’ technologies, and increased 5G coverage, especially indoors. It reported that over 1188 TB of data were consumed across all stadiums during the World Cup. These initiatives helped to make Vodafone the world’s fastest mobile network operator in 2022. By June 2023, 85% of Vodafone’s 2250 radio network sites were 5G enabled.

The chart below shows indoor 5G RSRP values for Ooredoo and Vodafone across four malls in Doha. It reveals that Ooredoo delivered superior indoor coverage in all of them, except for Villaggio Mall, where Vodafone outperformed.

The difference in RSRP is highest in City Center Doha Mall where Ooredoo was ahead of Vodafone by 9.2 dBm. In the country’s largest shopping center, the Mall of Qatar, the difference in indoor signal strength between the two operators is sizable, standing at 4.4 dBm. However, since both operators offer excellent coverage simultaneously, with an RSRP of -81.4 and -85.8 for Ooredoo and Vodafone, respectively, consumers are unlikely to perceive a difference in coverage.

Operators need to consider non-technical aspects when deploying indoor solutions

Measures should be in place to encourage operators to make indoor network deployments more efficient. For instance, the Chinese government mandated that operators share the mid-band spectrum (3.3-3.4 GHz) for indoor coverage to promote co-development and cost-sharing. In Europe, mobile network operators (MNOs) share indoor networks deployed by neutral hosts, such as Cellnex, with a revenue model based on charging the venue or building owner for the network instead of the operator.

In the United States, the primary ownership model for DAS often involves a combination of ownership by neutral host operators, MNOs, and venue owners depending on agreements, partnerships, and specific needs of the venue or location. Neutral host operators often play a significant role in deploying shared DAS infrastructure, while venue owners, managers, or MNOs may also have ownership stakes or involvement in specific deployments to enhance indoor wireless coverage.

Beyond cost and technical considerations, operators need to carefully address other factors and practical challenges before and during the implementation of an indoor network coverage solution. These include site acquisition and permission, physical space and aesthetics, and regulatory compliance needs.

Regulators can have a proactive role in reducing bureaucratic hurdles and encouraging government-industry collaboration. For example, in South Korea, the regulator promotes the parallel development of indoor and outdoor 5G coverage across the country. Another example is the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which recently requested industry views on the mechanism to rate digital connectivity in buildings. TRAI’s initiative illustrates the importance of devising standard guidelines, incentivizing investments in in-building infrastructure, and ultimately ensuring seamless and reliable indoor connectivity for consumers and businesses.

Ookla can support operators and venue owners in improving indoor cellular coverage 

As consumers’ expectations for network speed and consistent connectivity rise with the advent of 5G, operators should prioritize addressing indoor coverage issues to improve customer experience, drive data usage, and outperform their competitors.

As more consumers and businesses rely on 5G, an excellent indoor 5G experience will become even more essential. It will also pave the way for innovations that blend in-store with digital experiences. The future of physical malls in the region hinges on their ability to adopt new technologies and use them to transform the consumer experience.

Ookla can assist operators in identifying buildings or indoor venues with coverage or capacity issues using crowdsourced and controlled test data and the execution of precise walk tests for diagnosis. Cell Analytics helps to identify specific indoor areas with low signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) and signal quality (RSRQ), causing sluggish data speeds despite adequate coverage (RSRP).

Equipped with this knowledge, mobile network operators can promptly deploy personnel for on-site walk-tests using Wind™, Ookla’s handheld walk-and-drive controlled testing platform. Wind enables testers to simulate user behavior while meticulously capturing detailed RF data in the background and processing it in near-real time. This allows operators to implement corrective actions to boost network performance within any venue.

An alternative to deploying in-building 5G systems is to selectively offload usage to Wi-Fi provided these systems are designed, optimized, and operated to deliver an equivalent quality of experience – this can be done using Ekahau.