Mobile Signal Surveys for Commercial Buildings
Signal Surveys from Litenet
Poor mobile signal inside a building can have several causes. The signal outside may be weak, the building itself may be blocking it, different networks may perform very differently, or there may be problems with signal quality rather than signal strength alone.
A professional mobile signal survey removes the guesswork.
Litenet carries out mobile signal surveys in commercial buildings throughout the UK, measuring the mobile environment inside and outside the property before recommending how coverage should be improved.
You don't need to know which mobile signal booster you need. That's our job.
The survey gives us the information needed to understand the problem properly, design the right solution and prepare a fully costed proposal.
Why Have a Mobile Signal Survey?
The signal bars displayed on a mobile phone provide only a very limited picture of what is happening.
Two phones standing in exactly the same location may be using different networks, frequencies or technologies and can experience completely different levels of service.
That is why we survey the building before designing a commercial mobile coverage system.
We want to understand what signal is available, where it is available, how good it is and what happens to it as it enters the building.
A survey can also prevent money being spent on equipment that is unsuitable for the building or incapable of solving the actual problem.
What Do We Measure?
Our engineers use specialist RF survey equipment and mapping tools to build a picture of the mobile coverage available throughout the property.
Depending on the requirements of the project, we can examine:
- EE, O2, Vodafone and Three coverage
- available 4G and 5G services
- outdoor donor signal
- indoor signal strength and quality
- mobile frequencies and bands
- RSRP, RSRQ, SINR and other relevant RF measurements
- areas with poor or unusable coverage
- differences between mobile networks
- suitable donor antenna locations
- potential internal antenna positions
- cable routes and installation constraints
- the areas of the building where improved coverage is actually required
The objective isn't simply to find the strongest signal.
We need to determine whether the available mobile signal can be used effectively to provide reliable coverage inside the building.
The Building Matters Too
Surveying All the Major UK Mobile Networks
Surveying All the Major UK Mobile Networks
Mobile coverage isn't determined solely by the nearest mobile mast.
The construction of the building can have an enormous effect.
Reinforced concrete, steel frames, metal cladding, foil-backed insulation, Low-E glazing and other modern building materials can significantly reduce the radio signal reaching people inside.
Large warehouses and factories introduce different challenges to offices. Underground car parks behave differently again.
Even different areas within the same building can require different approaches.
That's why we don't design commercial mobile coverage systems from a postcode and a coverage map.
We survey the actual building.
Surveying All the Major UK Mobile Networks
Surveying All the Major UK Mobile Networks
Surveying All the Major UK Mobile Networks
A building can have excellent coverage from one mobile network and almost no usable coverage from another.
Our surveys can assess the major UK mobile networks and establish which services are available at the property.
This is particularly important when a business needs coverage for employees, customers or visitors using different mobile providers.
In other situations, the requirement may be much more specific — perhaps the organisation has a corporate mobile contract with one network and only needs that network improved.
The survey helps us determine whether a single-network or multi-network solution is most appropriate.
From Survey to System Design
Surveying All the Major UK Mobile Networks
The survey is not an isolated technical exercise.
It is the first stage of designing the finished mobile coverage system.
Once we understand the RF environment, we can consider the most appropriate equipment, donor antenna positions, internal coverage areas, distribution method, cabling and installation requirements.
We also consider practical issues such as working height, access, occupied areas, production environments and the need to minimise disruption to the organisation.
The result is a system designed around the building and its mobile environment, rather than a generic booster selected from a catalogue.
What Happens After the Survey?
Following the survey, we use the results to prepare the proposed system design and installation scope.
For projects where a mobile coverage system is viable, our proposal can identify the equipment required, networks to be covered, proposed coverage areas, antenna requirements, cabling, installation works and project cost.
Litenet can then manage the complete project through:
design → installation → commissioning → testing → validation → ongoing support
You have one team responsible for understanding the original problem and delivering the finished system.
We Prove the Improvement
Installing equipment is only part of the job.
Once a system has been commissioned, we can carry out post-installation testing using the same survey methodology where appropriate.
This allows the mobile coverage after installation to be compared with the original survey.
Instead of simply saying that the signal has improved, we can provide evidence of the improvement achieved in the areas the system was designed to cover.
That is particularly useful for larger commercial projects where IT teams, facilities managers, landlords or other stakeholders need to understand what has actually been delivered.
What Types of Buildings Do We Survey?
We carry out mobile coverage surveys in a wide range of commercial environments, including offices, factories, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, distribution centres, car dealerships, hotels, care homes, commercial property, basements and underground areas.
The survey methodology can be adapted to both relatively small buildings and much larger or more complex sites.
Arranging your survey
When Should You Arrange a Mobile Signal Survey?
A survey is particularly worthwhile when mobile coverage is affecting normal business operations, different networks behave unpredictably around the building, staff or customers regularly have to move to find signal, or you're considering installing an in-building mobile coverage system.
It's also valuable before a new system is purchased.
There are plenty of mobile signal boosters available online. The difficult part isn't buying equipment.
The difficult part is understanding what the building actually needs.
Arrange a Mobile Signal Survey
If poor mobile coverage is causing problems in your building, the first step is to understand what is happening.
Tell us about the building, the networks you're having problems with and the areas where coverage needs to improve.
We'll discuss the problem with you and advise whether a professional mobile signal survey is the appropriate next step.
Get in touch through the contact form on this site, email info@litenetuk.com or call 01908 794 794