Pay-as-you-occupy model brings 4G to London skyscraper

An innovative commercial model has helped deliver extensive 4G coverage from all four mobile operators to one of London’s newest skyscrapers.

Freshwave, in partnership with Electracom Projects, has implemented a 4G distributed antenna system (DAS) at 8 Bishopsgate, a 50-storey commercial building in the City of London, through a “pay-as-you-occupy” model.

The project addresses the challenge of providing reliable mobile connectivity in energy-efficient buildings, where materials such as low-emissivity glass can block outdoor signals.

“We deploy coverage for landlord areas and they pay for that via a monthly managed service fee,” Brendan Hourihane, Senior Director, Freshwave, explained to Cities Today. “The tenants can then also choose to opt into the service and contract with Freshwave; we charge them directly, again using a monthly managed service structure.”

The system requires minimal landlord involvement, and tenants who opt in can be connected within two to three weeks. The distributed antenna system in the building is dedicated to the landlord, tenants and visitors, and can be upgraded to 5G in the future.

While the City of London was not directly involved in this project, Freshwave has previously worked with the city on other initiatives, such as outdoor small cells.

“Stanhope [the developer] and Electracom Projects recognised the importance of reliable mobile connectivity for premium developments and initiated collaboration with Freshwave early in the planning stages,” said Hourihane. This early engagement streamlined the planning and deployment process for the DAS. While it is feasible to install a DAS in a building that is already occupied, having the system operational before tenants move in significantly enhances their experience.”

The DAS ensures better quality of service by securely connecting to the operators’ networks, unlike repeaters that merely amplify outdoor signals without guaranteeing quality or capacity. This approach helps improve mobile signal reliability in urban developments, particularly in buildings with energy-efficient designs.

Hourihane added: “Mobile signal is essential for modern life now, whether it’s for dealmaking in the office or keeping in touch with loved ones, so it’s a must in high-quality buildings such as 8 Bishopsgate to give the best experience.”

Image: 8 Bishopsgate