Anyone working in high-rise offices or large commercial buildings has likely encountered this frustrating moment: the mobile signal drops precisely when it is needed the most. Meeting rooms, underground car parks, even entire floors become real “dead zones.” This is not just inconvenient — it is a real problem that affects work efficiency, employee satisfaction, and ultimately, business success.
Did you know that up to 60% of offices in high-rise buildings regularly experience connectivity issues? This is not a coincidence. Thick walls, dense construction, and a lack of operator base stations all impact signal quality. Therefore, the first thing to do is to check mobile signal strength in your building. Without understanding the current signal level, it is difficult to find an effective solution.
But what if the disruptions start seriously hindering work? There is a solution. And it is not as complicated as it might seem. In this material, we will look at 4 key steps that will help you eliminate “dead zones,” check mobile signal strength, and ensure stable connectivity on every level of your building.
1. Signal Diagnosis: Start with Analysis
Before fixing the problem, you need to understand where it starts, as well as its scale or zonality. Mobile signal diagnosis is a basic but necessary step without which you cannot move forward: by identifying the source, you can seek adequate solutions.
Why is this important?
Depending on its location, in many buildings the signal does not disappear everywhere, but in specific zones: for example, in houses where the walls are positioned at an acute angle to the signal source, or on the upper floors, in underground car parks, or in rooms with many partitions. Without understanding these so-called dead zones, you risk wasting resources on fixing the concern where it simply may not exist.
How to conduct a diagnosis?
- Simple tools: On the surface there are OpenSignal or NetSpot — these are mobile applications designed to conduct initial analyses of signal strength and determine where the connection is weakest or completely absent.
- Professional audit: If the problem is serious — no signal despite proximity to the source and absence of obvious barriers — it is worth involving experts. They will conduct a more detailed analysis using professional equipment capable of detecting properties such as walls absorbing or deflecting signals. Based on the results, they will map out weak and zero zones and suggest possible solutions.
Diagnosis is an effective way to avoid unnecessary expenses. You know exactly what and where needs to be improved, which means the solution will be as accurate and effective as possible. Offcom knows everything about mobile signal strength measurement systems.
2. Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS): Eliminating “Dead Zones”
If your office is located in a high-rise building (whose walls dampen or reflect electromagnetic waves), the problem of weak signal is often related to uneven signal distribution. This is where Distributed Antenna Systems, or DAS, come to the rescue.
How does it work?
DAS is a network of small antennas installed inside the building: depending on the area to be covered, load-bearing walls, and internal partitions, these internal antennas should overlap each other with a reserve. Together, they form coverage that evenly distributes the signal across all floors, including the most remote and isolated areas.
Advantages of DAS:
- Even coverage: The signal reaches every room, regardless of the location of the base signal source.
- Stability: Due to the density of internal antennas, DAS minimises interruptions and allows for maintaining communication even under high load conditions.
- Scalability: The system can be adapted to the size and structural features of the building, taking into account your company’s communication needs.
In cases of remote or densely built-up areas, installing DAS should be considered a decisive step for companies operating in large buildings. It is not just an improvement in communication quality; it is an investment in work efficiency and employee comfort.
3. Private Mobile Networks: Stability and Control
When it comes to reliability, private mobile networks, installed by specialised companies like UCtel, deserve special attention. These networks operate independently of public operators — they form closed local networks, making them more stable and secure.
This approach addresses three key issues inherent to public operators. Ordinary networks are prone to congestion, especially in areas with high building density and population. Private networks provide control and guarantee stable connections even during peak hours.
Problems solved:
- Security: Only authorised personnel have access to the network, minimising the risk of data leaks.
- Stability: The signal does not depend on the load of public networks.
- Control: You can manage network parameters yourself, adjusting them to your needs.
Private networks are ideal for companies that work with large volumes of data or confidential information, such as those in the financial sector, manufacturing industry, as well as IT companies and data centres. To find out more about the concept of private 5G networks, visit the GOV.UK website.
4. Don’t Forget About People: Training and Support
Technology is only part of the solution. It is equally important that employees know how to properly use the available tools and understand how to respond to disruptions.
What should be done?
Regularly train employees on the use of new technologies. One of the main skills employees need is to correctly interpret the results of mobile signal strength checks — this determines the next tactical decisions. It is also necessary to provide round-the-clock technical support to quickly resolve issues if they arise. As part of strategic planning, regularly collect feedback to understand how new solutions affect the company’s operations. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, consider consulting with experts in the field, such as UCtel.
Investing in people is a long-term strategy that helps make technology truly effective.
In Conclusion
Connection problems in high-rise buildings are unacceptable. It requires a comprehensive approach. Start with diagnostics — testing the effectiveness of the mobile signal — to understand where and why connection failures are occurring. Once the cause of poor connectivity has been identified, select a vendor that can address it. The solution should include the option of installing a DAS to ensure stable coverage. To make effective use of this technology, explore all the private mobile network options available on the market for greater reliability. Also consider the impact of building materials and structures when choosing a solution. Finally, invest in staff training to maximise the effective use of the technology.
Don’t put off solving the problem. Contact the experts today to discuss how technology can transform your office. Starting with a mobile signal level check is a simple step that will lead to significant results.
