Designing buildings for the wireless age [FSS]

A new breed of construction materials with the ability to manage RF signals is set to rock the foundations of the building industry. People at work today are demanding a communications infrastructure that is both universally accessible - therefore including mobility - and secure. But meeting both of these requirements simultaneously can present a considerable challenge. Currently, mobile communication networks and systems are designed on the basis of detailed analysis of RF coverage and capacity requirements. Security and privacy issues can be addressed through good design, but 'eavesdropping' remains a real vulnerability. An emerging technology named FSS (frequency selective surface) is increasingly being proposed as an answer to the deployment of secure wireless systems for indoor environments, taking advantage of innovative techniques in building design and the use of attenuating materials. The signals for indoor systems are attenuated, while those for wider networks are not.