Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Mobile Signal Booster

In May 2019, the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust moved to a new headquarters in St Asaph after their previous building was decommissioned and sold. While the new headquarters offered modern, contemporary facilities, the building’s construction materials created a challenge—mobile signal could not penetrate the structure effectively.

Staff heavily rely on mobile communication to perform their duties, so when Vodafone and EE users began to report poor signal reception, it impacted job performance significantly. The IT department was flooded with complaints, and a solution was needed urgently.

The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust plays a critical role in emergency response across England and Wales. As part of this service, they operate a call centre that handles emergency calls from the public. When the headquarters moved to St Asaph Business Park, the call centre team quickly realized that poor mobile signal was hindering their ability to perform their duties as efficiently as before.

Despite the advanced facilities, the modern building’s materials made it difficult for mobile signals to reach key areas. This problem affected employees’ ability to respond promptly, which is vital in an emergency response environment. WiFi calling proved inadequate for the service’s needs, and a more reliable mobile signal solution was essential.

To address this issue, the IT department sought a solution that would provide robust and consistent coverage throughout the building. The CEL-FI QUATRA 1000 mobile signal booster was selected for the installation. This Active DAS Hybrid system is known for its high-quality, uniform mobile signal distribution across a building, offering scalable coverage tailored to the size of the facility.

Unlike traditional analogue boosters or passive DAS systems, the CEL-FI QUATRA 1000 delivers a signal that is up to 1000 times stronger. Using CAT 5e/6 cabling for both RF and power over Ethernet, the system ensures no signal loss, extending the mobile signal all the way to the perimeter of the building. The solution is cost-effective and easy to deploy, making it an ideal fit for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust’s needs.

The installation of the CEL-FI QUATRA 1000 was completed within days, and no operator license was required for deployment. Following the system’s installation, Vodafone and EE users in the building reported consistent mobile signal strength of four to five bars, allowing the call centre staff to perform their duties without disruption. The improved mobile coverage ensured that the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust could maintain its high standards of emergency response, with employees able to communicate effectively and efficiently.