Background
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) provides urgent and emergency care to over 2.7 million people across the North East of England, operating from multiple operational sites throughout the region.
Reliable communications are critical to ensuring teams can respond quickly, collaborate effectively, and maintain operational efficiency across offices, control centres, and support facilities.
However, like many modern buildings constructed with energy-efficient materials and dense structures, several NEAS sites experienced poor indoor mobile coverage, impacting day-to-day communications for staff and visitors.
NEAS engaged Simpli-Fi to design and deliver a solution that would significantly improve indoor mobile connectivity across multiple sites while ensuring long-term reliability and support.
The Challenge
Across several NEAS locations, the indoor mobile signal was inconsistent or unreliable due to:
- Signal attenuation caused by modern building materials
- Limited macro network penetration from external mobile masts
- Multiple operators are used by staff and visitors
- The need for a rapid deployment with minimal operational disruption
For healthcare environments, poor connectivity can create operational friction, affecting everything from staff communication to coordination between teams.
NEAS required a solution that would:
- Deliver consistent indoor coverage
- Support multiple UK mobile operators
- Be scalable across multiple sites
- Include long-term monitoring and support
The Solution
Simpli-Fi designed and deployed a multi-site in-building mobile coverage solution based on Nextivity CEL-FI technology, enabling reliable indoor connectivity without the complexity of traditional distributed antenna systems.
The project included:
- Site surveys and mobile signal testing
- RF design and coverage planning
- Installation of Nextivity CEL-FI multi-operator coverage equipment
- Strategic placement of external donor antennas and internal service antennas
- Post-installation validation testing to confirm coverage improvements
The system significantly enhances indoor signal levels by capturing available outdoor network signals and intelligently distributing them throughout the building.
Simpli-Fi engineers carried out the installation with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations.
Multi-Site Deployment
Working closely with the NEAS network team, Simpli-Fi has delivered deployments across multiple locations, with each installation tailored to the specific building layout and signal environment.
This flexible approach ensures that each facility benefits from optimised indoor coverage and performance.
Long-Term Support
To ensure continued reliability, Simpli-Fi and NEAS have agreed a three-year maintenance and support contract, providing:
- Ongoing system monitoring
- Maintenance and fault support
- Performance optimisation
- Future scalability across additional sites
This partnership ensures NEAS teams can rely on seamless mobile connectivity for years to come.
Results
Following installation, NEAS sites have seen significant improvements in indoor mobile signal strength and reliability, enabling staff to stay connected wherever they are in the building.
Benefits include:
- Stronger and more consistent indoor signal
- Improved communication for staff and operational teams
- Multi-operator support across the buildings
- A scalable platform for future site deployments
FAQs
Why is in-building mobile coverage important for healthcare facilities?
Healthcare environments rely on reliable communications for staff coordination, emergency response and operational efficiency. Poor indoor mobile coverage can slow down communication between teams and impact day-to-day operations. In-building mobile coverage solutions ensure consistent connectivity throughout the facility.
What technology was used in the NEAS deployment?
Simpli-Fi designed and installed a multi-operator solution using Nextivity CEL-FI technology. The system captures outdoor mobile signal and distributes it throughout the building using strategically placed donor and service antennas.
Does the solution support multiple mobile network operators?
Yes. The solution deployed across NEAS sites supports multiple UK mobile network operators, ensuring staff and visitors can access reliable mobile connectivity regardless of their provider.
How does Simpli-Fi maintain the system after installation?
Simpli-Fi provides ongoing maintenance and support to ensure consistent performance. For the NEAS deployment, a three-year support agreement includes monitoring, maintenance and optimisation of the in-building mobile coverage system.
What types of buildings benefit from in-building mobile coverage?
In-building mobile coverage solutions are commonly deployed in:
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Hospitals and healthcare facilities
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Emergency service buildings
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Warehouses and logistics centres
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Office buildings
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Universities and schools
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Public sector buildings
These environments often experience signal loss due to modern construction materials.
About Simpli-Fi
Simpli-Fi specialises in in-building mobile coverage, enterprise WiFi, and converged network infrastructure, helping organisations overcome connectivity challenges inside complex buildings and campuses.
From healthcare and public sector facilities to warehouses and commercial environments, Simpli-Fi designs, installs, and supports solutions that ensure reliable connectivity where it matters most.
Contact the team to discuss how we can improve your indoor mobile coverage.
Explore how we have helped other organisations with their mobile coverage.
