As we go digital, buildings must catch up

As the digital society and digital economy expand, the quality of indoor connectivity will increasingly define user experience, service reliability, & economic outcomes

- ANIL KUMAR LAHOTI

OVER THE PAST decade, India has seen a remarkable digital transformation. With among the world's lowest mobile data tariffs and the highest levels of data consumption, digital connectivity has become central to economic growth, governance, and social inclusion. India's digital economy contributes nearly 12% to its GDP and is expected to account for almost onefifth of its GDP by 2029-30, growing at a pace almost twice that of the economy's.

This trajectory reflects a simple but critical truth: the quality and reliability of digital infrastructure will increasingly shape economic productivity and citizen outcomes.

Yet, a paradox persists. While outdoor networks have expanded rapidly, the moment a user steps into a home, office, hospital, mall, or public building, connectivity often deteriorates. Calls drop, data speeds fall, and digital services become unreliable. It reflects a structural gap in how our built environment is designed.

The challenge will intensify as India transitions to 5G and 6G networks. These technologies rely increasingly on mid-and high-band spectrum to deliver high data rates. These frequencies weaken significantly when passing through walls, glass, or dense building materials. In a country where digital access is mobile-based rather than fibre-centric indoors, poor inbuilding connectivity risks diluting the benefits of next-generation networks.

The scale of the issue is unambiguous. Industry assessments consistently show that nearly 80% of mobile data consumption occurs indoors, particularly in urban areas. Buildings are no longer passive physical structures; they are integral to the digital ecosystem. From remote work and online education to telemedicine, digital payments, and emergency services, dependable indoor connectivity has become essential infrastructure.