Swedish hospital enhances connectivity with Maven Wireless

Hospitals rely on seamless communication networks for efficient operations and patient care. Recognising this need, a hospital in Sweden, covering 20 clinics and employing over 3200 healthcare professionals, recently upgraded its cellular infrastructure. This initiative aimed to support growing demands for patient care, streamline emergency communications and ensure operational efficiency.

Although the hospital’s legacy systems worked adequately, its cellular network was outdated, relying on off-air repeaters and limited frequency bands. These constraints hindered efficient communication, affecting the speed and reliability of internal and external connectivity.

The hospital required a scalable, future-ready communication solution that could support current and upcoming telecom standards. Essential requirements included compatibility with multiple frequency bands, multi-operator use, and compliance with EU cybersecurity standards, such as NIS2 and RCE. Additionally, the hospital needed integration with public safety networks, like SWEN/RAKEL G2, and sought future 5G support without replacing its existing infrastructure. Balancing backward compatibility with future upgrades was crucial, requiring a flexible, high-performance solution.

Maven Wireless addressed these challenges by providing a high-power digital distributed antenna system (DAS) to replace the hospital’s outdated components. Maven’s DAS integrates seamlessly with the hospital’s passive infrastructure, preserving legacy systems that remain effective while optimising resources. Equipped with advanced Quadband Remote Units, the DAS supports a wide range of frequency bands, improving data throughput and enabling continuous multi-operator service.

With its compact, fanless design, the DAS suits healthcare premises where quiet, unobtrusive equipment is essential. The system is also designed for remote commissioning and reconfiguration, allowing easy adjustments as the hospital’s needs evolve, minimising the need for onsite interventions and reducing operational disruptions.

Maven Wireless’s DAS now serves as a platform that supports both public safety and 5G services. It integrates TETRA and cellular bands, as well as both FDD and TDD on the same remote unit, for versatile coverage. This adaptability keeps the hospital’s communications infrastructure effective and prepared for future upgrades, minimising the need for frequent equipment changes. The system’s redundancy features, including multiple headend units and flexible fibre configurations, mean the network remains resilient under all conditions. This level of redundancy is critical in health care, where communication failures can have serious consequences.

In addition to meeting performance requirements, Maven’s DAS is energy efficient, with low power consumption that reduces operational costs compared to traditional systems. This feature aligns with the hospital’s sustainability goals, offering long-term savings through reduced power use.

To maintain high service standards, Maven’s Network Management System (NMS) provides real-time monitoring, troubleshooting and optimisation across the hospital’s network. The NMS offers continuous oversight, enabling proactive issue resolution. Automated processes provide uninterrupted service, keeping all components synchronised and operational. In a healthcare environment, where patient care is paramount, swift responses to network issues are invaluable, allowing staff to focus on patient needs without communication disruptions.

With Maven Wireless’s high-power digital DAS, the hospital has strengthened its communication infrastructure, achieving futureproof connectivity essential for high-quality health care and rapid emergency responses while ensuring operational efficiency. The upgrade thus exemplifies the transformative impact of investing in robust communication solutions, providing immediate and lasting benefits for staff and patients.

Image credit: iStock.com/BongkarnThanyakij