Princess Alexandra Hospital Selects Freshwave to Enable DAS Connectivity

Freshwave is working with The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) to provide 4G connectivity to The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, England. Freshwave designed, deployed and is now providing ongoing support via a managed service of the 4G distributed antenna system (DAS).

The DAS ensures 15 buildings across the hospital site enjoy access to carrier-grade 4G connectivity. All colleagues, patients and visitors now receive assured connectivity, regardless of the network they use.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford, and St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping.

While Freshwave carried out the connectivity installation, there was no operational impact on the hospital.

Whether newly built or older, hospitals often have complex physical layouts, with thick concrete or steel walls and floors. This is important for health and safety for patients, visitors and staff, but unfortunately it also leads to connectivity dead spots as it weakens mobile signal trying to enter from outside. Complex machinery can also interfere with wireless signals. An in-building DAS enhances mobile signal indoors and provides guaranteed quality of service as it connects securely into the mobile network operators’ networks. It allows everyone to move around the building with no dropped connections.

Jeffrey Wood, deputy director of ICT at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT), said: “We needed the right connectivity pathway now that would work for the hospital today and also take us into the future. There is so much that can be done as technologies continue to develop in the digital age, so I’m pleased that we’ve partnered with Freshwave on our hospital cellular solution.”

Simon Frumkin, CEO of Freshwave, said: “I’m happy that The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust improved their mobile connectivity with Freshwave. Mobile is an essential part of healthcare infrastructure and will be vital in the ongoing move to digitalise healthcare.”