CASE STUDY

Understanding the importance of reliable mobile network coverage, the management of St. James Quarter sought to address the challenge of poor cellular connectivity within the shopping centre. They aimed to provide an enhanced mobile experience to shoppers, ensuring they could stay connected and access digital services during their visits.

The Challenge 

The main challenge faced by St James Quarter Shopping Centre was the need for adequate cellular coverage and capacity within its premises. Edinburgh is notorious in the mobile radio planning world as a difficult place to have macro sites; with its historic buildings and restrictive planning laws, it is a challenging place for radio planners and MNOs to achieve good coverage; added to this challenge, St James’s Quarter is built into the granite hill on which Edinburgh is built.

The complex’s architecture and location in Edinburgh, with its enclosed spaces and multiple levels, presented significant obstacles for cellular signals to penetrate, resulting in weak signals, dropped calls, and slow data speeds for shoppers and staff.

The large number of visitors added to the congestion on the cellular network, leading to further degradation of service quality. This impacted not only shoppers’ ability to stay connected but also affected the operations of the stores and restaurants, which relied on seamless communication and digital services to serve customers efficiently.

The Solution

Pan RF made the decision to deploy an Active Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to address the cellular coverage challenges in St James Quarter. An Active DAS is a network of antennas strategically placed throughout a building or complex to distribute cellular signals efficiently. The site’s size meant that deploying a traditional passive DAS would not be feasible as the losses in the cable would be too high and the cable routes too complex.

The deployment began with a comprehensive site survey and analysis to understand the shopping centre’s layout and identify areas with weak or no signal coverage. Based on this information, a customised Active DAS solution was designed and engineered to meet the specific requirements of St James Quarter.

The Active DAS consisted of strategically placed antennas connected to a centralised headend. The headend received cellular signals from base stations in the Mobile Operators Equipment Room in the basement of the shopping centre.  The signals were then distributed via fibre and structured cabling to the antennas, amplifying and distributing them throughout the shopping centre. The system was designed to support multiple cellular technologies, including 2G, 3G, and 4G, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all frequency bands.

Installing the Active DAS required careful planning and coordination with the shopping centre management and principal contractor to minimise building disruptions. The antennas were discreetly installed in various locations, including common areas, store premises, and parking areas. The system was integrated with the existing infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity without compromising the aesthetics of the shopping centre.

The Outcome

The deployment of the Active DAS in St James Quarter resulted in a significant improvement in cellular coverage and capacity. Shoppers and staff can experience reliable voice and data services throughout the premises, eliminating dropped calls and slow data speeds. This enhanced connectivity allowed visitors to stay connected, access digital services, and share their experiences on social media platforms.

The improved cellular coverage also positively impacted the shopping centre’s operations. Stores and restaurants provided seamless mobile payment options, digital promotions, and real-time inventory updates, enhancing the overall shopping experience for customers. The staff could communicate effectively and deliver prompt customer service, increasing customer satisfaction.

Additionally, the deployment of the Active DAS strengthened the position of St James Quarter as a modern and customer-centric retail destination. By prioritising seamless connectivity, the shopping centre demonstrated its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of shoppers and providing a technologically advanced shopping environment.

In conclusion, the deployment of the Active DAS in St James Quarter successfully addressed the challenge of poor cellular coverage and capacity. The enhanced mobile connectivity improved the shopping experience.  Pan RF are proud to be involved in such an iconic place in a stunning location.

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