Wilson Electronics Reveals 5G Cellular Amplifier for Hotels and Resorts

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UT—Wilson Electronics, a provider in cellular signal amplifier technology, has revealed its first commercial-grade 5G cellular amplifier, specifically designed for hotels and resorts. As 5G signals may struggle to penetrate large buildings, these amplifiers will make 5G accessible to more users.

More specifically, the WilsonPro Pro 710i is a 5G cellular signal amplifier designed specifically for frequencies used by T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and other carriers, and it uses an external antenna to capture existing outdoor cell signal and amplify it inside the building through internal antennas.

“The Pro 710i has +23dBm downlink power, making it a great fit for commercial spaces ranging in size from 5,000-100,000 sq. ft.,” said Scott Lucas, chief revenue officer, Wilson Electronics. “Like most WilsonPro amplifiers, the Pro 710i features eXtended Dynamic Range (XDR) technology to automatically adjust to any changes in outdoor signal quality, ensuring the highest level of performance.”

Pro 710iLucas added, “Almost every industry will benefit from 5G’s transformative technology and its promise of a faster, more responsive, low-latency cellular network that will further promote the Internet of Things (IoT) thanks to its ability to connect multiple smart devices using much faster download speeds and higher bandwidth.”

He noted that, like existing 4G coverage, 5G will experience signal attention due the materials that hotels and resorts are made from, natural obstacles like trees and hills, and weather disturbances. However, the Pro 710i amplifies existing outdoor signals and brings them inside hotels’ walls.

This means better voice quality, fewer dropped calls, uninterrupted texts and faster data streaming on-property.

“[Guests] will be able to communicate better with family and friends back at home, pull up maps and plan their day, take and post photos and reviews and do work, to name a few,” Lucas said.

And, for hotel owners, the Pro 710i can help improve operations and possibly lead to cost savings.

“Strong cellular signal is important for numerous daily tasks involved in hotel operations,” Lucas said. “Weak connectivity or dead zones can throw a major wrench into hotel operations and can cause major frustration for both hotel staff and guests, severely inhibiting the ability to provide top-notch customer service, process payments and allow employees to successfully communicate with one another in different locations of the building.”

As for cost savings, Lucas said that compared to active DAS solutions, WilsonPro’s passive DAS solutions (such as the Pro 710i) are more affordable.

“Whereas active DAS solutions cost between $5-$10 per sq. ft. for multicarrier solutions, passive DAS typically costs only approximately $1 per sq. ft. and works with any carrier,” he said.

Lucas understands that while technology trends are running rampant in hotels—charging stations for electric vehicles, electronic concierge kiosks and mobile apps—technology that can improve both the guest experience and hotel operations is far from a trend, but a mainstay.

“As people and IoT devices become increasingly dependent on cellular signal, it is becoming a necessity that hotels and resorts have a reliable signal throughout the property,” Lucas said. “With the advent of 5G, of which many bands will see much greater signal loss over short distances than existing 4G, the need for cellular amplifiers to boost signal will become even more vital to provide cellular connectivity throughout hotels.”