Mobile Signal Improvement in a Regional Supermarket Distribution Centre
21st Sep 2023
A new 70,000m² regional distribution centre was built for a leading supermarket in Peterborough, UK. The warehouse includes a single level office on the 3rd floor which housed administrative areas and a canteen. Office space, driver check-in desks and the goods out area are located on the ground floor. Employees are provided with EE operated mobile phones and reliable mobile connection is imperative for business operations.
The Problem
The main building is 242m long, 185m wide and 20m high, constructed from large-span fabricated steel trusses and metal cladding. The use of metal cladding and steel effectively blocked any mobile signal from penetrating through. A further challenge was posed by the cable trays which were located above the suspended ceiling, which would make any cable installation problematic.
Recognizing that mobile connectivity was crucial for business operations, the customer included mobile signal solutions as part of the project from the onset. This helped to ensure a smooth detection and installation process.
The Solution
Pan RF conducted a site survey which established that there was adequate EE mobile coverage outside the building, but once inside, the signal strength declining significantly, particularly in the 3rd-floor offices and goods out areas.
Pan RF presented the CEL-FI QUATRA 1000 mobile signal booster as a solution to the customer to provide voice and data services on the EE network. The CEL-FI QUATRA 1000 is a hybrid, all-digital solution which combines the best of active DAS and Smart Booster technologies. Speed tests and walk tests were carried out and showed major improvement of coverage levels within the 3rd floor and ground floor areas.
The Results
This cost-effective, OFCOM licence-exempt solution was deployed in a short space of time and provided the warehouse employees with reliable voice and data services in the new facility.
Installation Images