The cellular service provider industry is easily one of the most competitive landscapes on the planet. This is due to the perception that the products and services that are being offered are pretty much the same from all providers. This isn’t true obviously, but the public perceives it to be so in many cases. Cellular users will judge their service separately from their device, feeling that the device itself is the connectivity mechanism that provides them with the ability to make calls as well as receive or transfer data. They perceive the provider that they are paying as being the company that simply provides their ability to connect, and as a result most consumers will view their own provider in harsh terms when they are unsatisfied by the service connection they receive. At any point when a user decides to make a call or connect to the internet, they expect immediate service. When they download information or stream video, they expect no buffering and no interruptions. Most will not think about their service when they are not unhappy and begin questioning the value of their service provider only when connectivity issues arise or prices go up. Customers moving from one carrier to another presents a problem for the carriers, as winning back a customer is far more difficult than gaining that customers in the first place. This is why the most competitive players within these industries invest heavily into surge protection equipment and radio frequency signal protection. Because of natural events such as lightning strikes – that are unavoidable – cellular providers will bear the brunt of customer dissatisfaction. In order to maintain the strongest signals and the longest up times, carriers must avoid the situations they know will cause downtimes and service disruptions. They must avoid the damage that comes as a result of lightning strikes.
Radio frequency signal protection comprises a system of devices that enable ongoing communication to happen between the base station unit and remote radio heads at the top of the cellular tower, rooftop or other structure. The signal that connects a user on the ground with the network and its clarity or strength is determined by many factors including number and type of equipment in the system, as well as maintaining the ongoing communication abilities between the top and bottom of the tower. These radio frequencies that played a critical role in the service that the customer is judging can be interrupted or knocked out completely by lightning strikes to the connection cables or to the equipment itself. The components via power cables are also affected, and they also provide an easy path for transients to reach the equipment further up or downstream. Even though coaxial data lines are not able to handle the level of electricity that power lines are, their direct connection to the equipment itself provides problematic with regard to signal interruption and data loss. Interruptions caused by any number of natural events will weigh heavily on the customer base as they expect flawless service. Through radio frequency signal protection, small and compact devices are installed into the system which will not only mitigate the flow of transients, but also stop electromagnetic pulse disruptions. Through the installation of technologically advanced RF protection, the competitive advantage is given to those who understand that prevention is just as important as expansion.
