In recent times, we have seen an enormous increase in the use of mobiles phones, with an emphasis on the use of smartphones in particular. In 2020, it was estimated that up to 95% of the population of some developed countries owned or had access to a smartphone, with many upgrading them regularly. Some of the countries which have seen a huge rise in mobile phone usage include South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Japan and the majority of European union countries. 2020 not only brought us this data, it also brought the Covid-19 pandemic, a strain on society that we hadn’t before seen in our lifetime.
This only cemented the importance of, and the reliance on, mobile phones, and communication as a whole. With this in mind, we all know the frustrations associated with dropping calls, pages not loading and your phone not working as it should at important times. In a business and workplace environment these important times are often seen, with employees rushing to windows or outside, frantically trying to make phone calls. With Sure Signal, all these issues can be resolved. In a fast, practical and bespoke solution to suit your business requirements.
This is down to the high number of network base stations covering the areas which had previously struggled to receive signal. This isn’t the case everywhere however, with some areas still seeing significant issues with coverage as a whole. In-building coverage is a totally different ball game however, with many different factors contributing to the lack of phone signal in your business premises, from building materials to the layout, to the location of the building.
How to Boost Your Business Signal
Each generation of mobile networks brought something new to the table, with developments continuously showing through with each release. The first generation was poor with different networks on different frequencies struggling to receive calls from each other and many calls not working properly as a whole. As the coverage increased it improved, but it wasn’t until 2G was first used that we really saw the benefits of making calls seamlessly on the move using a mobile phone.
3G saw the internet first brought to phones and 4G, which this article will focus on in particular seen much improved speeds and much improved calls and data connectivity. One of the main reasons you may be experiencing a lack of 4G on your phone can be down to the fact that your phone will automatically revert back to using 3G or in particularly bad cases, 2G, should the signal your device is picking up be extremely poor or lacking in any generation. To prevent this, you can boost the 4G signal coming into your office or workplace to ensure perfect 4G connection continuously.
A distributed antenna system is a simple to understand concept which utilises an external antenna placed in a high position on the building, in most cases the roof space, which has best access to good quality phone signal. Signal is generally better the higher you go as there are fewer obstructions to the line of the base station for the phone signal to reach.
Antennas
This signal which is picked up by the external antenna is then transferred to the license exempt, Ofcom compliant, 4G mobile booster which sure signal ltd uses. This 4G booster will then transfer the signal through cable to an array of internal antennas to distribute the phone signal throughout your business premises. To take a closer look at the legality of 4G mobile boosters in the UK we can take a look at small section of OFCOM legislation on the topic and discuss the signal boosters which are legal and the ramifications of breaking these regulations.
To quote OFCOM: “Repeater devices transmit or re-transmit in the cellular frequency bands. Only the mobile network operators are licensed to use equipment that transmits in these bands. Installation or use of repeater devices by anyone without a licence is a criminal offence under Section 8 of the WT Act 2006. Any person found guilty of installing or using such devices without a licence would be liable on conviction to a fine of up to £5000 and/or up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment (Six months in Scotland and Northern Ireland). Cel-fi products are ‘Licence exempt’ and therefore you do not run that risk with this range of products”.
Further from OFCOM: “In the UK the use of any radio transmitting device is required to be either licensed or specifically exempted from licensing under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (WT Act 2006). For mobile telephones, the use of the spectrum by the network operators is licensed to cover the use of transmitters and repeaters, while user devices (i.e. handsets) are covered by a general exemption.”
To be compliant with the OFCOM regulations and to ensure your system is legal to use and license exempt, you must use a Cel Fi brand of 4G mobile booster. This is the only OFCOM approved brand of signal booster and at Sure Signal we only install license exempt equipment and are UK resellers for this equipment having worked in collaboration with Cel Fi on a number of projects. Failure to comply with OFCOM regulations can result in fines and or prosecution. While the equipment that is deemed non compliant with UK standards may be easy to find online and a lot cheaper, the risk of these ramifications certainly outweigh the savings you may make on using this illegal equipment. Not only this, but they play a detrimental role on the network’s effectiveness and have been proven to interfere with the same.
The Cel Fi range of Signal Boosters have a 4G booster for every type of building that needs its phone signal improved. The Cel Fi Prime is a small and simple to install unit, designed with small houses, flats and apartments in mind. For extremely small offices and workplaces it can sometimes be sufficient to use a Prime. For the majority of business related installations the Cel Fi Go X and Cel Fi Solo are the preferred options.
These units are similar in the way they work by distributed antenna system and are perfect for commercial settings as they are a lot more powerful than the previously mentioned Cel Fi Prime. The majority of Sure Signal installations are done using these signal boosters. In some particularly large settings, phone signal installations may require a Cel Fi Quatra hybrid DAS system which can also be used in difficult locations with limited cable routes. The size and scope of this system can go well into the hundreds of thousands of square footage.
To get more information about the options available to you and your business, contact one of our expert staff today who will be more than happy to discuss your options and arrange for any site visits to be carried out. You won’t regret enriching your business premises with a 4G mobile booster to improve the communication and connectivity of your staff.