Freshwave installs 4G DAS at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Freshwave installed a 4G distributed antenna system (DAS) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, giving staff, patients and visitors access to all major UK mobile operator networks.

TL;DR

• Freshwave deployed a 4G DAS at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
• The system provides indoor access to all major UK mobile operator networks.
• Freshwave said the deployment supports digital healthcare use cases in buildings with poor outdoor signal penetration.
• The company cited research estimating poor connectivity costs the UK healthcare sector £3.8 billion and that better indoor connectivity could unlock £3.5 billion in economic value.

The distributed antenna system (DAS), which is an indoor network that extends mobile coverage through a building, serves Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. Freshwave said the system enables staff, patients and visitors to connect to all major UK mobile operator networks inside the hospital.

Freshwave said hospitals can have weak indoor mobile coverage because thick walls and complex layouts reduce outdoor signal penetration. The company said stronger indoor mobile coverage can support digital healthcare tools, including specialist peer-to-peer messaging apps and other technologies used in healthcare workflows.

Freshwave cited research among healthcare professionals that estimated poor connectivity causes £3.8 billion in lost value in the UK healthcare sector. The same research indicated that improved indoor connectivity could release £3.5 billion in economic value. Freshwave also said mobile connectivity can be more reliable than Wi-Fi in cases where Wi-Fi networks are overburdened, and noted UK digital healthcare goals include an entirely online hospital model that connects patients directly to clinicians.

Related questions

• What is a distributed antenna system (DAS) in a hospital?
• Which hospital in London received Freshwave's 4G DAS?
• What economic impact did Freshwave cite for poor connectivity in UK healthcare?