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Why Excellent Mobile Connectivity Is So Fundamental For A Building’s Performance And The Experience Of Its Occupants: An Innovative Solution By Shared Access At The National Gallery

By Sam Jackman, Chief Development Officer, Shared Access.

Improved building standards and more sustainable building design are producing healthier and more energy efficient new buildings. However, the higher quality insulation materials and the new styles of glass are practically impermeable to mobile signals. This can a huge problem.

The quality and experience of mobile connectivity are of real concern for facilities managers. Not only is it vital to ensure that all employees are able to make and receive mobile phone calls wherever they are in the building, but mobile connectivity is critically important for boosting the efficiency and functioning of so many critical systems in a ‘smart building’. Sensors such as those that measure occupancy, energy and water use, alert for maintenance and safety issues, depend on robust connectivity.

While cellular calls can be made over a Wi-Fi network, there are disadvantages to using Wi-Fi calling. Networks such as Wi-Fi - and the internet - get congested, especially when multiple devices are using it and this can compromise connectivity and therefore call quality. In order to use Wi-Fi calling successfully, you need to be connected to a stable and strong Wi-Fi network. Additionally, in the case of an emergency, it may not provide accurate location to emergency services. On a practical note, not all phone models and carriers support Wi-Fi calling and using Wi-Fi calling can drain the battery faster than using cellular calling. When you also consider that Wi-Fi networks can be vulnerable to hacking, it’s clear to see that reliance on Wi-Fi calling isn’t appropriate.

It isn’t in the business model of network providers to take responsibility for improving mobile connectivity in buildings. However, there are now innovations and new enterprise models that make it possible to do so. One example is how Shared Access, an independent wireless telecommunications infrastructure company, works with mobile network operators and landlords to design, install and run systems that deliver great connectivity.

Shared Access most recently provided a neutral host solution for the installation of mobile connectivity infrastructure inside the National Gallery’s new office accommodation. The National Gallery transformed what had been an empty courtyard into new office accommodation, One Gallery Hub. It was designed to offer seven floors of inspirational, collaborative and efficient work spaces for over 250 gallery staff, as well as offering support for those working from home. The National Gallery needed continuous mobile coverage from the basement going up to a sixth floor and a low maintenance but functional solution that covered the whole building.

It's a spectacular new office space, but like so many other buildings, it suffered with poor mobile phone coverage. This was due to a combination of original 6 ft thick stone and brick walls, highly insulating construction materials that essentially repel a phone signal from outside and the growth of buildings in the surrounding area which effectively blocked phone signal from reaching the building.

We were asked to provide connectivity infrastructure that would deliver mobile coverage in all the office spaces, common areas and basement meeting rooms, to ensure operational efficiency for teams and individuals working in the Hub as well as those working remotely.

A significant challenge was the lack of space within the National Gallery to house the equipment on site. In addition, as the National Gallery is a Grade 1 listed building, the solution also had to be aesthetically sympathetic to the environment.

The National Gallery worked in partnership with Shared Access and mobile network operators to address these technical obstacles. The approach uses a Base Station Hotel (BTS), one of the first commercial applications that is not for a campus. The majority of the kit required to deliver the system is situated in another location and linked to the National Gallery via a dark fibre connection. This equipment takes up the most physical room and also requires the majority of the power and air conditioning.

The benefits from enhancing mobile connectivity inside the National Gallery’s office space have been widespread; they include a lift in staff morale, greater productivity and a much improved occupancy of previously unused meeting rooms and breakout areas in the basement.

External images of The National Gallery credit: Getty Images.

All other images credit: Shared Access.