Improving outdoor 5G coverage across a multi-building campus environment
Organization: Airgain
Industry: Technology
Region: California, USA
Use Case: 5G connectivity across office walkways, seating areas, and spaces between buildings
Executive Summary
Airgain improved outdoor 5G coverage across its California headquarters campus using Lighthouse Smart Network Controlled Repeaters. Despite being located only 400 meters from a 5G macro cell site, signal obstruction and urban clutter created significant coverage gaps between buildings and outdoor gathering areas. Following deployment, 99% of measured locations exceeded -90 dBm RSRP, and most test areas achieved throughput above 150 Mbps. The solution was deployed in one business day without disrupting operations.
Despite being located approximately 400 meters from a 5G macro cell site, outdoor areas around Airgain’s headquarters experienced inconsistent coverage due to urban clutter, building obstructions, and signal orientation.
Connectivity was particularly degraded in areas between buildings, where signal strength and throughput fell well below expected 5G performance levels. Walk-test data showed:
These gaps limited the usability of outdoor spaces that depend on consistent, high-speed connectivity.
Airgain deployed Lighthouse Smart Network Controlled Repeaters with dual-beam architecture and multiple subscriber unit (SU) antennas. The system captured the available 5G signal from the nearby macro network and redirected it to previously underserved outdoor areas, including walkways, seating zones, and spaces between buildings. Beam tuning was used to target specific coverage gaps while minimizing overlap and interference.
RSRP levels improved substantially, with 99% of measurements exceeding -90 dBm, compared to more than 66% falling below -100 dBm prior to deployment.
Following deployment, the majority of the test area achieved throughput above 150 Mbps, addressing previous performance gaps across outdoor zones.
The deployment established a clear greenfield coverage footprint across areas that previously experienced weak or inconsistent signal, particularly between buildings and along walkways.
The solution used dual-beam repeaters and multiple SU antennas to redirect and distribute signal across coverage gaps. Signal quality was further optimized through beam tuning aligned to specific coverage voids, improving performance without overlap or interference.
The system was installed and configured within one business day, enabling fast validation with no disruption to normal operations.
The trial demonstrated a repeatable approach for improving connectivity in complex outdoor environments, including corporate campuses and public spaces with similar coverage challenges.
| Metric | Before Deployment | After Deployment |
|---|---|---|
| RSRP coverage | 66%+ below -100 dBm | 99% above -90 dBm |
| Throughput | 48% below 100 Mbps | Majority above 150 Mbps |
| Coverage quality | Inconsistent between buildings | Consistent campus-wide coverage |
Reliable outdoor connectivity is critical for government agencies, public safety organizations, transportation operators, and enterprise campuses. This deployment demonstrates how targeted repeater technology can rapidly address coverage gaps in environments where users depend on consistent cellular connectivity for communication, coordination, and operational efficiency.
After deployment, 99% of measured locations exceeded -90 dBm RSRP and most of the test area achieved throughput above 150 Mbps.
