04 September 2025
The Royal Sussex County Hospital is a major teaching hospital located in Brighton. The hospital offers a range of services, including an emergency department, cancer treatments at the Sussex Cancer Centre, cardiac surgery, maternity care, and specialised intensive care units for both adults and newborns.
Overcoming deep underground signal barriers
The Royal Sussex County Hospital was plagued by complete signal blockage at the construction of its new basement office due to the thick concrete walls.
Initially, TrellisWorks responded with a targeted QuickCel Basic solution setup comprising a single-panel donor antenna, a Solo network unit, and an omni-directional server antenna. This configuration successfully restored full mobile coverage within the designated workspace, enabling staff to operate effectively despite challenging underground conditions.
After three months, however, the scope of the project expanded. The construction company Laing O’Rourke required additional network coverage to accommodate 50 staff relocating from adjacent cabins into a larger underground office area. Moreover, there was an urgent need to establish reliable hotspot connectivity across six additional floors, including the first six storeys of the hospital.
The existing system, while effective, needed to be upgraded to ensure robust, OFCOM-compliant coverage for these new demands, which included critical communication during sensitive construction phases.
Precision deployment for complex environments
TrellisWorks conducted a comprehensive assessment of the entire hospital building, encompassing 11 above-ground floors and two basement levels. This entailed detailed analysis of cable runs, optimal donor antenna locations, and strategic placement of coverage units to maximise signal strength.
The deployment involved precise alignment of donor antennas over 1km of cabling across multiple floors; installation of six coverage units to create localised hotspots; and identification of the best cell towers for optimal connectivity.
This multi-layered approach was essential to ensure consistent, high-quality coverage throughout the challenging underground and above-ground environments.
Two skilled engineers completed the installation within just four days, mounting roof antennas, connecting network units, and meticulously testing the coverage. Following commissioning and final adjustments, the system was signed off by the client.
The results speak for themselves: what was once a complete coverage void now boasts full-strength, reliable mobile signals across critical areas. This upgrade not only supports current construction activities but also lays the groundwork for future expansion to cover remaining floors lacking consistent connectivity.
OFCOM-compliant and future-ready
As the only OFCOM-compliant mobile boosting technology currently available in the UK, the QuickCel Advanced solution ensures legal, safe, and effective operation within sensitive environments. The initial hotspot setup, purchased outright rather than rented, enabled timely deployment aligned with project deadlines, ensuring construction continuity.
Partnering with Nextivity, TrellisWorks installed two QuickCel Advanced systems connected to six coverage units, effectively transforming previously signal-devoid floors into fully connected zones.
Ultimately, TrellisWorks successfully expanded its upgraded mobile signal boosting solution within the Royal Sussex County Hospital, delivering reliable, high-strength connectivity across multiple underground and above-ground levels. This strategic enhancement ensures seamless communication vital for ongoing construction projects and hospital operations.
