>From the inside out: Vendor guides carriers toward indoor coverage

With the help of a former Motorola executive, a developer of planning and testing tools for wireless networks is attempting to shift carriers' focus toward enhancing their networks' in-building coverage.

Safco Technologies manufactures propagation measurement tools, coverage survey systems, network analysis software and portable test equipment-all of it geared toward more a proactive approach to wireless network creation. President and chief executive officer Marty Singer, a former vice president in Motorola's Cellular Infrastructure Group, leads the organization.

Singer believes that the new crop of network operators entering the wireless scene-not to mention the incumbent carriers whose networks require constant upgrading-are beginning to look at planning and testing not as a necessary burden but as a way of injecting more value into their networks.

"They're very interested in how the networks are performing and how to be more efficient," Singer said. "Our products and services save and make money for carriers. This is not a commodities business-this is a value proposition business."

As such, Singer expects that the data collection, testing and planning tools that his and other companies offer will be used more harmoniously as part of a carrier's coverage strategy.

"There's going to be a stronger relationship between predictive tools and traffic analysis," he said. "We're going to be able to do really sophisticated planning for operators."

A large part of that advanced planning will revolve around creating networks more geared toward in-building RF penetration, he said, noting that measurement and testing are becoming increasingly important as the concept of "wireline infringement" gains recognition.

"In-building coverage is going to become a principal focus for all the wireless businesses," Singer said. "As in-building coverage becomes more of an issue, there becomes a real demand for products that provide good testing and planning assistance."

Safco's products include Walkabout PCS, a portable data collection and survey system for network planning; OPAS32, an office propagation analysis system that maps potential network schemes based on data collected by the Walkabout; and various test and measurement tools.

Safco also operates Tec Cellular, a division that provides network engineering services and predictive modeling tools.

Tec Cellular's Wizard software provides network planning and engineering for several types of wireless networks.