Mobile Signal Booster at AFC Bournemouth new training facility

Objective:
Design and install a mobile signal booster delivering reliable coverage for all four major UK mobile networks—EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three—across AFC Bournemouth’s new Canford training facility.

Scope:

• Conduct a full RF survey to measure signal strength and locate blackspots.
• Design a rapidly deployable system that wouldn’t delay building handover.
• Supply and install fully Ofcom-compliant boosters and antennas.
• Ensure coverage in all areas, including gyms, offices, meeting rooms, and changing facilities.
• Test and optimise to confirm performance.

As the facility approached practical completion and final handover, a critical issue came to light, which was poor mobile signal for all mobile networks inside the building. The moment you stepped through the doors, coverage dropped to zero.

To make matters more pressing, the handover of the building was imminent, and the team was preparing to move in. With just days remaining, there was intense pressure to deliver a solution that could be installed quickly, without disrupting the pristine new interiors or delaying the wider programme. Time was tight, expectations were high, and the need for a fully connected environment was critical.

We deployed the Nextivity CEL-FI QUATRA 4000e, a multi-carrier, hybrid active Distributed Antenna System (DAS) supporting 3G/4G/5G voice and data.

Key benefits:

• Up to 100 dB gain—far above typical boosters.
• Simultaneous multi-network support for consistent coverage.
• Scalable to 11,600 m² per Network Unit, expandable via Fiber Hub.
• Fully Ofcom compliant for legal, interference-free operation.

1. External Signal Capture:
   • Installed four high-gain antennas on the roof to capture external signals.
   • Connected these antennas to the Network Unit using heavy-duty coaxial cables to minimize signal loss.
2. Signal Distribution:
   • Ran fibre optic cables across the roof to a Fiber Hub located on the opposite side of the building.
   • The Fiber Hub increased the system’s capacity, allowing for additional Coverage Units and maintaining signal quality over longer distances.
3. Internal Coverage Deployment:
   • Strategically placed 11 Coverage Units throughout the facility.
   • Each unit, powered via Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), distributed the amplified signal to multiple internal antennas, providing comprehensive indoor coverage.

The transformation was immediate and dramatic. As soon as the system was powered up, areas that had been complete dead zones lit up with full bars of signal across all major UK mobile networks. Staff and visitors could make calls, send messages, and access mobile data effortlessly throughout the building—something that had been impossible just days before.

Throughout the installation, we protected newly finished surfaces, working with precision and leaving the building exactly as we found it—only now fully connected.

EE Heatmap (before)

EE Heatmap (after)

We combine decades of experience in networking, telecoms, and IT with ECS-certified engineers and strong project management. Our work spans hospitals, schools, care homes, production facilities, and major construction projects—always adapting to site conditions, minimising disruption, and meeting tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.