The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur showed good average 5G Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) but experienced weaker signals in certain areas.
This was the finding of a report by Ookla, a global leader in network intelligence and connectivity insights. Using data from Cell Analytics, the report benchmarked the 5G indoor coverage experience in nine of the world’s most iconic buildings by analysing the average RSRP and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).
The nine iconic buildings in the report were the Burj Khalifa in Dubai; Shanghai Tower, Lotte World Tower (Seoul); One World Trade Centre (New York); Taipei 101; Petronas Twin Towers; Autograph Tower (Jakarta); Empire State Building (New York) and The Shard (London).
What is RSRP?
RSRP represents the network signal strength received by a mobile phone. An RSRP value that exceeds -90 dBm indicates superior coverage. If the signal strength is between -90 dBm and -100 dBm, network coverage is considered good. Below this range, expect slower download speeds and potential network disconnections.
What is RSRQ?
RSRQ is a metric used to evaluate the quality of the reference signal received by a device. A value of -10 dB or higher indicates excellent network quality, while a value of between -10 dB and -15 dB is considered good. An RSRQ value of lower than -15 dB is poor or indicates no signal at all.
Which skyscraper has the best 5G indoor coverage?
According to Ookla’s report, the Shanghai Tower recorded the strongest 5G signal among all buildings, with a weighted average RSRP of -71.04 dBm across all samples detected inside the building.
This suggests a well-optimised indoor network, likely supported by China’s extensive 5G infrastructure. As China is one of the major leaders in 5G deployment, major urban centres like Shanghai benefit from advanced indoor network solutions, such as small cells and distributed antenna systems, ensuring strong coverage even in high-rise environments.
So where exactly do the Petronas Twin Towers stand among other iconic skyscrapers?
The lower 10 per cent RSRP values for Taipei 101 and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur were below -100 dBm (-105.00 dBm for Taipei 101 and -101.00 dBm for Petronas Twin Towers), suggesting that parts of these buildings may suffer from inconsistent coverage. Taipei 101 was designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, incorporating thick concrete and reinforced steel, which can interfere with mobile signals.
“The Petronas Twin Towers currently lack a dedicated indoor 5G coverage solution,” the report added.
Comparing the average RSRP and RSRQ at two different height levels
Several skyscrapers showed minimal differences in 5G signal strength and quality between the lowest and highest floors. Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Centre, Taipei 101, and the Empire State Building all had RSRP variations of 3 dBm or less between measurements taken at the bottom and top levels.
The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 828 metres, reported a slight improvement from -77.09 dBm at the lower floors to -76.30 dBm at the top.
Petronas Twin Towers, Lotte World Tower, and Autograph Tower showed a significant decline in signal strength as elevation increased.
The Petronas Twin Towers recorded a relatively strong -80.44 dBm nearer to ground levels, but this dropped to -92.67 dBm at the top. This is mainly due to the lack of a dedicated indoor 5G coverage solution, with most 5G signals coming from outdoor cell towers.
Reliable 5G coverage requires targeted network solutions
Modern building materials, such as low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, can significantly impact 5G signal attenuation by blocking or reflecting radio frequencies, especially in high-frequency bands like mmWave.
These challenges highlight the need for dedicated indoor solutions such as small cell deployments, distributed antenna systems (DAS), and enhanced in-building network infrastructure.
An alternative to deploying in-building 5G systems is to selectively offload usage to Wi-Fi, provided these systems are designed, optimised, and operated to deliver an equivalent quality of experience.
