How to Improve Cell Signal in a Portable Office
- News
- 14 Aug, 2020
In the last two decades we have experienced record growth in the mobile network sector across the African continent, broad adoption of smartphones and a revolutionized way of communicating.
It all started with the Blackberry in the early 2000’s, then just four years later reached a peak level of hysteria with the release of Apple’s first iPhone. Cell phone users suddenly enjoyed a much richer mobile experience. Email, text messaging, music and video streaming, mobile apps, and social media consumption became the norm.
This enhanced mobile experience would give rise to another revolution: the mobile or modular office.
The Rise of the Mobile Office
Now, more than ever before, cell phones make working remotely in any location possible - as long as you receive a cell signal. The popularity of using mobile hotspots to connect notebooks and laptops to the internet is ever increasing.
Those industries which most often require temporary office solutions are in remote or locations where infrastructure is underdeveloped, thus usually lacking dependable cellular signal.
Some examples include: Mineral mining operations in the North West, Northern Cape and Free State. Timber harvesting and lumber operations in the Mpumalanga and Western Cape. Temporary real estate sales offices and construction-site offices used by contractors and subcontractors on the job.
These industries depend on a reliable cell signal not only to complete necessary work, but to survive day by day. Before we explore the best ways to improve cell signal in a temporary office, let’s take a moment to explore the reasons why portable or modular offices get weak cell signals in the first place.
What Weakens Cell Signal in a Temporary Office
Poor cell signal is a frequent problem; one that affects each of the nation’s projected 22 million mobile users at some point. Typically, there are two main reasons that mobile phone users experience weak cellular signal:
- Destructive interference or construction materials such as metal and concrete
- Geographical distance and obstacles between users and the nearest cell towers
In the case of portable or modular buildings and offices, these factors are often intensified. Besides their distance from local cell towers, portable offices are often constructed with anodized aluminum and commercial -grade steel —all in the quest for added longevity. Wire mesh and foam-injected wall insulation also blocks external static electricity field, which can block cell phone signals from penetrating your portable office - leaving you disconnected from the outside world.
Better Cell Signal, Increased Productivity
According to a recent survey, 43% of respondents see the use of a mobile device as “extremely critical for work,” with 44% of respondents who state that they “check or use their mobile device for work more than 20 times per day.” In a portable office environment, the ability to use cellular technology and have access to reliable cell signal is even more critical.
If you or your staff are routinely experiencing poor reception and dropped calls, a portable office cell booster is a cost-effective solution. With a cell phone signal booster, you can see an immediate increase in bars with cell and data signals up to 32x stronger on your mobile device. Plus, investing in a phone booster for your portable office is far less expensive than an active Distributed Antenna System (DAS) solution; which is usually carrier-specific with a long-term contract and requires a fiber-optic cable network, remote nodes, and a base station to generate signal strength.
If you’re tired of poor reception and want to put a stop to dropped calls at your portable office or remote job-site, check out our full line of cell signal boosters.
