Two new-build specialist inpatient healthcare facilities had been designed around safety, durability and the needs of a demanding clinical environment.

The buildings were based on substantially the same plans, with one layout mirroring the other. They also shared the same unintended problem. Their structural design blocked the mobile network signal almost completely.

Dense blockwork, robust internal walls and secure ceiling construction significantly reduced the ability of outdoor mobile signals to reach the interior. Across substantial areas of the buildings, mobile phones could not maintain a reliable connection.

For the teams preparing to operate the facilities, this was an important consideration. Staff needed reliable mobile connectivity as they moved through wards, circulation routes and staff areas, without depending on every device being connected to the organisation’s Wi-Fi network.

The solution used Nextivity CEL-FI QUATRA technology to improve EE and Vodafone mobile coverage.

External antennas captured the available mobile signal outside the facilities and fed it into central equipment located within the building risers.

From there, Cat6A cabling distributed the service to coverage units positioned above the ceilings throughout the buildings.

Four rooftop antennas were positioned in opposing directions, enabling the system to receive available signal from different directions and adding resilience if the performance of a nearby mobile mast changed.

The solution included:

• Nextivity CEL-FI QUATRA
• EE and Vodafone mobile coverage
• external rooftop antennas
• Cat6A distribution infrastructure
• internal coverage units positioned throughout priority areas
• remote visibility of system performance

Because the solution was installed before occupation, Scenariio could coordinate the cellular infrastructure with the wider construction programme.

That also introduced some practical constraints.

Access to different sections depended on the progress of the build, with some areas unavailable until preceding works had been completed. Much of the CEL-FI equipment also needed to sit above secure ceilings, making installation sequencing particularly important.

Once those ceilings were closed, access would become considerably more restricted.

Scenariio therefore coordinated the installation around the construction programme so that cabling, equipment and coverage units could be installed at the appropriate stage and the system fully commissioned before the facilities became operational.

Testing provided a clear way to validate the performance of the solution. Scenariio surveyed the buildings with the CEL-FI system switched off and repeated the process with the system operating; the difference was clear.

Areas that had previously recorded little or no usable mobile signal gained coverage once the system was active. Testing confirmed strong coverage throughout the principal ward and staff areas, while also allowing any weaker locations to be identified before occupation.

This before-and-after approach provided evidence that the solution was addressing the original coverage problem rather than relying on theoretical design alone.

The completed installation delivered reliable mobile connectivity across the priority areas of both facilities.

Staff could use supported mobile networks throughout the main clinical and staff spaces without depending solely on access to the organisation’s Wi-Fi network.

Project outcomes:

• Improved EE and Vodafone coverage
• Reliable mobile calls and data across priority areas
• Reduced likelihood of calls dropping as staff moved through the buildings
• Mobile connectivity available independently of Wi-Fi access
• Remote visibility of system performance
• Flexibility to adapt the solution if additional mobile-network requirements emerged

The project also meant the buildings entered operation with their mobile connectivity requirements already addressed rather than discovering the problem after occupation.

Mobile connectivity can easily be overlooked during building design, particularly where external network coverage appears satisfactory. However, the materials and construction methods used within a building can dramatically change the mobile experience indoors.

For new healthcare environments, considering cellular coverage alongside the wider building infrastructure creates an opportunity to incorporate antennas, cabling and coverage equipment before ceilings close and spaces become operational.

At Scenariio, we assess the environment first and design connectivity around how the building actually behaves and how people need to use it.

Where poor mobile signal is the issue, that may involve an in-building cellular system such as CEL-FI. Where the underlying problem lies elsewhere, the right solution may involve Wi-Fi, structured cabling, fibre or wider network infrastructure

Our team will respond and help you explore the most practical options.