Courtx Leisure Facility, Portsmouth – Connectivity Case Study
The Challenge
As CourtX prepared to transform its new Portsmouth leisure facility into a flagship destination for health, fitness, sport, and community events, the team faced a critical requirement: a fast, secure, and highly reliable connectivity infrastructure capable of supporting staff operations, public users, booking systems, security services, and future digital experiences.
With the facility hosting the Portsmouth Art Trail Opening in 2026, CourtX needed a state-of-the-art public network that could handle high footfall and media activity while ensuring seamless performance across the site.
Simpli-Fi was engaged to design and deliver a fully integrated wired and wireless network that would future-proof the venue and enable a flawless guest experience.
The Solution: A Secure, High-Performance Network Built for Today AND Tomorrow
Simpli-Fi delivered a complete connectivity solution, combining enterprise-grade performance with public-ready reliability.
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Robust Wired Network Infrastructure
To ensure high-speed, low-latency performance across the facility, Simpli-Fi designed and installed a new active network architecture that supports:
- Core operational systems
- Access control
- Digital signage
- Staff workstations and POS
- Back-office and administrative networks
The wired network forms the backbone of the venue, ensuring stable connectivity where uptime is essential.
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Enterprise WiFi for Staff, and Operational Services
Simpli-Fi deployed an advanced, secure WiFi network across the entire facility, providing:
- Full coverage with zero dead zones
- Secure network segmentation for staff, operations, and IoT devices
- High-capacity support for management systems, handheld devices, equipment, and sensors
- Consistent, reliable roaming throughout the site
This ensures all operational technologies perform seamlessly, even during peak facility usage.
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A State-of-the-Art Public WiFi Network for Visitors
With the Portsmouth Art Trail Opening set for 2026, CourtX expect large crowds, media teams, and high-demand usage.
Simpli-Fi delivered a public-grade network designed specifically for:
- High-density, high-footfall environments
- Seamless onboarding for guests
- Captive portal experience and branding
- Content filtering and public safety compliance
- Scalable bandwidth for events and peak periods
The solution ensures visitors enjoy a smooth, secure and fast connection — essential for digital wayfinding, social media sharing, ticketing, and event engagement.
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End-to-End Project Delivery & Ongoing Support
Simpli-Fi managed the entire process from survey to deployment, including:
- RF design and predictive heatmapping
- Cabling installation and network build
- Device configuration and testing
- Security hardening and policy setup
- Handover documentation and training
The facility is backed by Simpli-Fi’s managed service, providing:
- 24/7 remote monitoring
- Proactive optimisation
- Rapid issue resolution
- Firmware and security updates
This ensures the network remains stable, secure and high-performing long after launch.
The Result: A Future-Proof Leisure Facility Ready for 2026 AND Beyond
Simpli-Fi delivered a fully integrated wired and wireless solution that powers every aspect of CourtX’s operations and visitor experience.
The facility now benefits from:
- Enterprise-grade performance across all systems
- Reliable, engaging public WiFi for visitors
- A future-ready digital foundation for the 2026 Art Trail
- High availability and security across critical services
- A network built to scale with Courtx’s long-term ambitions
With seamless connectivity in place, Courtx can focus on delivering exceptional leisure, community, and cultural experiences, knowing their infrastructure is ready for the demand ahead.
Conclusion
When venues rely on connectivity to run operations, engage visitors and support major events, the quality of their network infrastructure matters.
Simpli-Fi ensures leisure facilities, from gyms to sports centres to cultural venues Stay connected, secure and future-ready.
Planning a new leisure facility or major event?
Speak to the Simpli-Fi team to design a connectivity solution that meets your operational, commercial and visitor experience goals.
FAQs
Q1: What connectivity solutions did Simpli-Fi provide for Courtx Leisure Facility in Portsmouth?
Simpli-Fi delivered a full turnkey solution including design, switching infrastructure, enterprise WiFi for staff, and a state-of-the-art public WiFi network designed for high footfall throughout the Portsmouth Art Trail.
Q2: How do you design WiFi for large leisure facilities or sports centres?
We begin with an RF survey and predictive heatmapping, followed by a tailored design that accounts for building materials, device density, coverage requirements, and security segmentation. The result is seamless WiFi with enterprise-grade performance across all areas.
Q3: What makes a public WiFi network “event-ready”?
An event-ready network supports high-density user volumes, predictable performance, robust security, captive portals, and scalable bandwidth. Simpli-Fi engineered Courtx’s public network to handle thousands of visitors throughout the Art Trail.
Q4: How much does it cost to install wired and wireless networks in a leisure facility?
Costs vary depending on building size, cabling requirements, access point density, and guest network features. Typical installations range from £15,000 to £60,000, with larger multi-zone venues requiring additional coverage and switching hardware.
Q5: Can Simpli-Fi provide ongoing monitoring and support for venue networks?
Yes. Simpli-Fi offers a managed service with 24/7 monitoring, performance optimisation, security updates, and proactive issue resolution — ensuring networks stay reliable long after installation.
Q6: Why do leisure centres and community venues need enterprise WiFi?
They rely on connectivity for bookings, POS systems, member apps, digital signage, security systems, IoT devices, and guest access. Enterprise WiFi ensures reliability even at peak times.
Q7: Can Simpli-Fi support future upgrades, such as private 5G or expanded public WiFi?
Absolutely. The Courtx network was built with scalability in mind, allowing easy expansion to private 4G/5G, enhanced visitor engagement platforms, and additional coverage for new facilities or events.
