Cellnex UK today announced the delivery of a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) for The OWO, previously known as the Old War Office, now reimagined as a new destination with 120-bedroom Raffles Hotel, Raffles London at The OWO, a collection of 9 restaurants and 3 bars, a Guerlain Spa, and 85 Raffles branded residences. The in-building connectivity solution provides fast, consistent mobile signal and data coverage across the building and is now live for residents and visitors supported by the UK Mobile Network Operators.

The OWO is a historic, Grade II* listed building in Whitehall which has recently undergone major renovation works and has been transformed into a new hospitality destination.. The OWO, like many large, historic buildings, was constructed with materials that by nature block mobile signals from outside the building. Cellnex UK, supported by specialist systems engineers Pan RF, deployed a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) inside the building, which provides fast and reliable connectivity across indoor areas and corners of the building, including the hotel’s 600 capacity ballroom.

Alfonso Alvarez, Managing Director, Cellnex UK, said: “We are delighted to be part of the transformation of The OWO, an iconic landmark in Whitehall, providing a vital utility for residents and customers. A real focus for this project was ensuring that the solution was non-intrusive and in keeping with The OWO’s impressive heritage and beautiful architecture, whilst also providing the seamless connectivity experience that today’s consumers expect.”

Luxury real estate and hospitality is a key market for Cellnex UK’s in-building division, which expanded in October 2022 after the company acquired indoor connectivity specialists Herbert In-Building Wireless and formed Cellnex UK In-Building Solutions (CUKIS). The CUKIS team has extensive experience in the luxury market, delivering solutions in line with a building’s original architecture and historical features whilst ensuring minimal disruption during deployment. As a neutral host, Cellnex UK is in a strong position to support the hospitality and real estate sector to deliver the connectivity needs that their customers expect in their daily lives.

Alfonso Alvarez continued, “We are pleased that The OWO’s residents, guests and visitors can now enjoy uninterrupted mobile connectivity, without any compromise to the building’s aesthetic. The overall refurbishment of The OWO is truly impressive and we would like to congratulate all parties involved in such an innovative project.”