Wireless Infrastructure Group has launched superfast 4G mobile technology at one of the UK’s largest retail centres – intu Trafford Centre in Manchester, helping to bring the world of online and offline retail together. THE VENUE

Situated west of Manchester city centre, intu Trafford Centre is the second largest shopping venue in the UK. Over 1.8 million square feet of prime retail space, it accommodates top high street shopping brands, Europe’s largest food court and the UK’s busiest cinema.

The combination of stunning architecture, quality of shopping and leisure facilities together with the constant drive to improve the customer experience, has ensured that intu Trafford Centre remains a commercial success and continues to dominate retailing and leisure in the north west of England.

Ten per cent of the UK population lives within a 45-minutes drive of intu Trafford Centre – all with a growing appetite for faster mobile technology as part of their everyday shopping experience.

THE CHALLENGE

Quick to adopt new technologies, Intu has developed a robust digital strategy which seeks to guarantee that shoppers stay more connected whilst visiting their venues.

As part of this strategy, Intu required a reliable wireless solution to deliver comprehensive mobile coverage on a multi-carrier, multi-technology basis to retailers and the 35 million shoppers that visit intu Trafford Centre each year.

Installing this kind of network infrastructure whilst minimising visible disruption can be challenging. Wireless Infrastructure Group was appointed by Intu to design a single and well-invested wireless solution that was sympathetic to the building architecture and supported voice and data services on behalf of all of the UK mobile network operators.

Wireless Infrastructure Group provides intu Trafford Centre with a superfast 4G makeover

Case Study

Contact:Head Office

Avondale HousePhoenix CrescentStrathclyde Business ParkBellshill ML4 3NJ

Contact.

Craig BirchenoughTelepone.

01698 842426Email.

CBirchenough@wirelessinfrastructure.co.uk

“ WIG was our first choice when it came to launching superfast 4G technology at intu Trafford Centre. We needed a partner who could help bring the world of online and offline retail together. WIG ticked this box by providing a single solution and comprehensive mobile coverage on a multi-carrier, multi-technology basis across our shopping centre. Our customers can now stay more connected while visiting intu Trafford Centre.”

Gordon McKinnon, Regional Centre Director, Intu Properties plc

wirelessinfrastructure.co.uk

intu Trafford Centre Manchester

wirelessinfrastructure.co.uk

THE BENEFIT

Visitors to intu Trafford Centre can now stay better connected as a direct result of the DAS which has been funded and managed by Wireless Infrastructure Group.

This innovative technology is revolutionising the retail environment enabling visitors to keep in touch with friends, share on social media and check online retail sites as part of their experience at the venue.

Wireless Infrastructure Group provides real time network monitoring, robust maintenance and around the clock service level commitments to ensure that the DAS continues to perform at optimum levels with minimal downtime. Additionally, the DAS provides an efficient route to upgrade ensuring its continued suitability for hosting future mobile technologies and services on a cost effective basis.

The launch of DAS at intu Trafford Centre follows quickly on the heels of the state of the art network deployed by Wireless Infrastructure Group at MediaCityUK in Salford. The company is currently investing heavily in communication infrastructure across the UK and has plans to deploy the technology across the remainder of the Intu portfolio of shopping centres over the next two years.

THE SOLUTION

Working with Everything Everywhere (EE) as network launch partner and the technical team at Intu, Wireless Infrastructure Group designed and launched a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). The network is capable of supporting new 4G services as well as significantly enhancing 2G and 3G services within intu Trafford Centre for customers of those mobile network operators that are connected to it.

Based on a fibre optic backbone and utilising the latest multi-operator equipment components, the DAS extends to cover all areas of intu Trafford Centre including the malls, anchor retail stores and foodcourt areas and consists of the following key features:

• 125 strategically located antenna points

• 13km of coaxial and fibre optic cabling

• 22 intelligent, 4G compatible remote unit nodes

• A central equipment room supporting DAS control equipment and individual customer base stations

As well as providing high speed 4G data to EE customers in intu Trafford Centre, the DAS will ensure that visitors can make calls and send texts throughout the centre. Crucially, the DAS is fully shareable allowing other mobile network operators to readily connect and deliver service without the need to duplicate the equipment deployment.

intu Trafford Centre, Manchester

intu Trafford Centre ManchesterCase Study