The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London has a newly installed 4G distributed antenna system (DAS) intended to improve indoor mobile reception for staff, patients and visitors.
What has been installed
Infrastructure provider Freshwave deployed the DAS to provide indoor connectivity for the country’s three major mobile operators: EE, Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneThree. The system is designed to distribute wireless and cellular coverage across large buildings rather than relying on external rooftop antennas or distant cell towers.
Why this matters locally
Mobile connectivity in hospitals can be problematic because of thick walls and complex layouts that reduce signal strength. Freshwave says that other technologies such as Wi‑Fi are often congested, and a DAS offers a dedicated indoor solution that supports multi‑operator mobile access. The deployment is presented as a contribution to the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and the NHS’s shift from analogue to digital systems.
"By bringing mobile coverage indoors, we’re ensuring that staff can access critical digital tools without interruption, patients can stay connected with their families, and hospital operations run more smoothly," said Simon Frumkin, CEO, Freshwave.
Practical benefits
- Improved communication for clinical teams using mobile devices around the site.
- Better patient connectivity so relatives can be contacted and patients can use mobile services.
- Reduced reliance on overloaded Wi‑Fi for voice and data services.
Freshwave, founded in 2018, works on indoor and outdoor connectivity solutions including small cells, DAS and Wi‑Fi, and has previously collaborated with operators such as Virgin Media O2 and EE. The company is backed by investor DigitalBridge.
| Operator | Supported by DAS |
|---|---|
| EE | Yes |
| Virgin Media O2 | Yes |
| VodafoneThree | Yes |
For staff and patients at Chelsea and Westminster, the installation aims to reduce dropped calls and improve access to mobile applications used in clinical workflows. The move reflects a wider trend of deploying tailored connectivity solutions in healthcare settings to support digital services.
