Indoor Connectivity: Closing the experience gap in commercial real-estate

From first occupancy and beyond, today’s ultra-connected tenants expect nothing less than great 4G and 5G in-building mobile phone coverage.

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Jack Martin, Commercial Development Manager at Cellnex UK, examines why in-building connectivity is the new ‘must-have’ for commercial property owners and how today’s 4G and 5G network solutions make it possible to enhance smart building status and deliver against high tenant expectations.

Today’s office workers rely on their smartphones more than ever before to make and receive their voice calls. Plus, the realities of our ‘always connected’ world of work means they’re dependent on a wide range of mobile business applications to stay ahead of operational tasks and notifications.

No longer tethered to a single desk, flexible workers are moving between workstations, meeting rooms and collaborative spaces in a bid to optimise every minute of their working day. Accompanied at all times by their smartphones. No one wants to miss a crucial call because the network drops at the wrong moment, or the call doesn’t get through in the first place. With 80% of mobile calls originating from inside buildings, mobiles are now the preferred medium when talking to customers, colleagues and partners.

This means that from first occupancy and beyond, 4G or 5G mobile connectivity has become essential to every building. All too often, however, the quality of coverage that tenants and visitors receive indoors fails to match the experience they expect outside.

Thick walls, steel structures and the use of metallised-glass in building design can reduce signal strength or block it completely. Calls are missed, mobile apps won’t load, and productivity falls as tenant and visitor frustrations rise.

For property owners and landlords of multi-tenant office buildings, addressing the issue of unreliable mobile coverage has become a commercial and competitive imperative.

Building smarter – seizing new opportunities

Providing high performance, indoor mobile coverage is a sure-fire way of increasing a property’s value and appeal when it comes to attracting enterprise tenants. By providing bundled connectivity as part of a serviced office agreement, building owners and landlords are able to truly differentiate their offering and stand out from the competition.

Mobile network connectivity is just the start. By addressing the coverage issue, building owners and landlords will also be able to lay the foundations for a more connected and smarter future.

Smart building apps allow staff to use their phones to unlock access to buildings out of hours, or to operate lifts to gain entry to specified floors or areas. All of which will deliver enhanced security and control for tenants.

In addition, mobile apps can be used onsite to deliver value-added services, such as access to leisure and recreation facilities or enhanced catering and hospitality services.

Addressing the mobile coverage challenge

A Cellnex In-Building Connectivity Solution makes it easier for owners and landlords to enhance their buildings with mobile coverage and capacity. With flexibility and affordability in mind, we have developed a range of commercial models and technical solutions that can be tailored to their exact needs.

Options like distributed antenna systems (DAS) now make it possible to bring consistent 4G and 5G mobile signals to every location in every part of the premises. These systems bring a mobile operator’s signal inside the building where it is then amplified and distributed via a network of antennas to provide coverage to all areas.

Catering for all mobile network operators (MNOs), these solutions deliver reliable connectivity and are scalable enough to easily support evolving building or tenant needs. Built to rigorous industry specifications, they also feature full system control and management alongside 24x7x365 monitoring as standard.

With a proven track record in deploying in-building solutions that meet the specific needs of today’s commercial buildings, we understand the growing need for smart connectivity. And we know how to eliminate complexity to transform the indoor user experience while building the mobile foundations for truly smart buildings.

To find out more, or discuss your specific requirements, get in touch at: In-BuildingSolutions@cellnextelecom.co.uk