Enhancing Operational Efficiency with Scalable Solutions

Signal Boosting Solution for SANRAL Offices in Gqeberha

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is an independent, statutory company registered under the Companies Act. The South African government, represented by the Minister of Transport, is the sole shareholder and owner of SANRAL. It operates under the South African National Roads Agency Limited and National Roads Act (Act No. 7, 1998) and is governed by a Board of eight people. SANRAL's mandate includes financing, improving, managing, and maintaining the national road network, which is considered the economic arteries of South Africa.

 

The Problem

The SANRAL office in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) faced significant signal problems that severely impacted the productivity and communication efficiency of its 120 employees. Indoor signal strength for Vodacom was as low as -110 dBm, and MTN signal readings were around -108 dBm. This weak signal resulted in download speeds of less than 1 Mbps, far below acceptable levels for efficient internet usage and data transfer. The office also experienced numerous dead zones and inconsistent signal coverage across both floors, further exacerbating communication issues.

There was an urgent need to ensure robust and reliable connectivity throughout the building, with a primary focus on the Vodacom network. The poor signal strength and low internet speeds were disrupting daily operations, causing inefficiencies and delays in both internal and external communications. To address these challenges, a comprehensive signal-boosting solution was essential to ensure reliable connectivity and enhance the overall operational efficiency of the SANRAL Gqeberha office.

 

The Solution

To address the significant signal issues faced by the SANRAL office, the installation team devised a comprehensive and tailored solution focusing on enhancing Vodacom signal strength and overall connectivity within the building. The solution included the following components:

Donor Antennas:

• The Arrow LPDA - High Gain Directional Donor Antenna: Selected for its high gain and directional capabilities, allowing it to capture the strongest available signal from the nearest Vodacom cell tower.

The Arrow’s focused high-gain capture, maximizing signal reception.

Signal Boosters:

• WilsonPro A1000 Boosters: These high-performance boosters were strategically placed to amplify the captured signal and ensure even distribution throughout the building.

The WilsonPro A1000 signal boosters are designed to effectively enhance signal strength and coverage. Given the comprehensive coverage across the ground, first and second floors in the SANRAL Gqeberha office, the use of 5 WilsonPro A1000 boosters should generally provide the necessary signal enhancement. The boosters work to amplify the signal captured by the donor antennas and distribute it evenly across the building, reducing dead zones and ensuring a more reliable connection.

Transmitter Antennas:

• Ceiling Mount Dome Antennas: Installed across both floors to provide widespread and consistent indoor coverage, eliminating dead zones.
• Indoor Wall-Mount Panel Antenna: Used to enhance signal strength in specific areas where additional coverage was needed.

The ceiling mount dome antennas were strategically placed across both floors to distribute the amplified signal evenly, ensuring consistent coverage and eliminating dead zones. The wall-mount panel antenna was installed in a specific area where additional coverage was needed, further enhancing the overall signal strength and reliability within the building. This setup aimed to maximize indoor coverage and provide robust connectivity for the entire SANRAL office.

The installation team utilized the of the Arrow donor antennas to capture the strongest available signal from the nearest Vodacom cell tower. The captured signal was then amplified using the WilsonPro A1000 boosters and distributed throughout the building via ceiling dome and wall-mount panel antennas, ensuring comprehensive and consistent coverage.

The Results

The implementation of the signal-boosting solution yielded significant improvements in signal strength and coverage within the SANRAL Gqeberha office. Post-installation readings indicated a substantial increase in signal strength, with Vodacom signal levels improving to a range of -79 dBm to -75 dBm. This marked enhancement in signal strength translated to increased download speeds, consistently achieving over 15 Mbps, and provided a reliable and robust connectivity experience for all 120 employees.

The comprehensive solution effectively eliminated dead zones and ensured consistent coverage across both floors of the building. This enhanced connectivity significantly improved communication efficiency, enabling seamless data transfer, and supporting the operational needs of the SANRAL office. The scalable nature of the solution also allows for future expansions or modifications, ensuring sustained connectivity and adaptability to evolving communication requirements.

Overall, the SANRAL Gqeberha office experienced a remarkable transformation in their communication capabilities, resulting in increased productivity, operational efficiency, and employee satisfaction. The tailored signal-boosting solution provided by the installation team successfully addressed the signal issues and established a reliable and scalable connectivity infrastructure to support SANRAL's mission-critical operations.