Greg McCall, chief networks officer, BT Group looks at improving your indoor connectivity.

As a nation we live in the moment, eager to stay informed, share unforgettable experiences with friends and family, or use the digital services that shape our lives. Mobile connectivity is the backbone of these moments, keeping us connected and enabling real time experiences. It helps us to navigate, communicate, transact, and engage with the world around us.

Whether it’s attending a major cultural live event, catching a last-minute train, streaming your favourite artist from a shopping centre café, or joining a video meeting from an office block, connectivity is a quiet enabler that turns possibility into reality. But whatever the use case, if the network doesn’t have sufficient capacity, then everybody’s experience suffers.

Indoor environments represent especially unique challenges for connectivity. So, how is infrastructure adapting to meet customer needs and navigate the challenges of built environments?

The complexities of indoor connectivity

Commercial venues and public spaces come in all shapes and sizes, from sprawling airports to compact heritage train stations, or multi-level shopping centres. The fabric of these buildings creates challenges for connectivity. Thick Victorian brickwork, dense steel frameworks and modern energy-efficient materials used for insulation and glazing, can all block or weaken signals. Combine that with thousands of people concentrated in one location, all connecting from multiple devices to the network at once, and the need for purpose-built infrastructure becomes essential to meet capacity requirements and deliver reliable experiences.

These challenges can impact everything from simple actions like downloading a boarding pass at the airport gate, or making a contactless payment, to more data-hungry activities. For many, that means streaming music or live-broadcasting from an event; for others, it’s video-calling friends and family to share the moment in real time - something which over one-third of Gen Z-ers like to do. And these are often more than just minor nuisances, they can potentially delay journeys, dampen the enjoyment of an event, and undermine the seamless, always-on experience people expect.

Overcoming barriers from the outside in

To bridge the gap between outdoor and indoor performance, the industry is deploying innovative connectivity solutions like Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and indoor small cells. Both technologies provide key improvements for redistributing connectivity seamlessly and efficiently across complex venues. They help to ensure reliable coverage throughout a building, regardless of its size or structure.

  • DAS divides large or intricate buildings into smaller zones, each served by its own antenna connected to a central source — effectively bringing 4G or 5G from outside to in. These antennas mean coverage can be delivered evenly and ensure any barriers to reliable connectivity are no longer a concern.
  • Indoor small cells boost capacity in high-demand zones such as busy concourses, gates, or retail floors, delivering additional bandwidth where it's most needed and the concentration of users can be especially high.

These approaches have real-world impact. For instance, at Cheltenham Racecourse, a DAS installation nearly doubled 4G and 5G data traffic during the Cheltenham Festival compared to the previous year. Similarly, Manchester Airport’s new indoor system now ensures fast, reliable mobile access across all terminals, from check-in to departure lounges.

Collaboration as a catalyst

Without this infrastructure, moments that should feel seamless can quickly turn into points of frustration for customers and operational bottlenecks for businesses. The reality, however, is that this is both a shared challenge and opportunity. Network operators, infrastructure providers, building owners and event organisers will need to collaborate on the creative design and implementation of connectivity solutions that balance performance, cost, and user experience. Increasingly, connectivity is being factored into new build developments from the outset, with dedicated pathways and materials that facilitate strong signals and easy upgrades.

For older, more complex built environments, modular systems and phased rollouts are making upgrades more achievable with minimal disruption. The business case is ultimately compelling. Strong connectivity is not just an amenity for consumers but an expectation, influencing customer satisfaction, tenant retention and venue reputation.

A seamlessly connected future

The ambition for the industry is for a network that permeates everywhere, and in-building connectivity is essential. Achieving that goal will require technical expertise, long-term planning, and a shared commitment across sectors. With 85 new indoor systems activated across the UK in the past year, we continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the same high-quality indoor connectivity as outdoor wherever possible.

It’s encouraging to see more and more landlords recognise mobile connectivity as a key requirement for their occupants, be they sports fans, shoppers, commuters or employees. By closing the gap between outdoor and indoor performance, we can ensure that wherever life takes us, the digital experiences that matter most are always within reach.