Blog: The hidden costs of poor mobile connectivity in office buildings
Mobile connectivity has become a fundamental utility for modern businesses. Yet, many commercial buildings still suffer from poor indoor mobile coverage, especially those constructed with steel frames or energy-efficient glass that block mobile signals. While dropped calls or slow-loading emails are obvious frustrations, they only scratch the surface. The real impact of poor mobile connectivity is often hidden and it’s costing businesses time, money and missed opportunities.
1. Productivity loss: A silent drain of time
When staff can’t rely on their mobile devices, they spend valuable time searching for signal, resending messages or using alternative channels to stay connected. Individually, these interruptions seem small but across an entire workforce, they become significant.
For example, if an employee loses just 10 minutes per day due to mobile issues. That’s over 40 hours per person, per year for roughly a full working week. For a business with 100 employees, that’s 4,000 hours of lost productivity annually. In a world where responsiveness and efficiency are key to competitiveness, that’s time that businesses can’t afford to lose.
2. Customer frustration and business reputational risk
From first impressions to long-term partnerships, communication is at the heart of customer experience. Clients expect to reach you when they need to and expect their experience in your offices to reflect the professionalism of your brand.
If a key stakeholder can’t get through on the phone, or their call drops repeatedly during an important call, the perception is not just one of inconvenience it’s of unreliability. Poor mobile connectivity can undermine trust and create friction at critical moments of a business relationship. It may have an impact on winning new business, especially in sectors such as financial services and law where responsiveness is a competitive differentiator.
3. Hidden strain on IT and facilities teams: Reduces operational efficiency
When employees can’t rely on mobile coverage, they seek alternative solutions. That often leads to a greater demand on WiFi infrastructure not designed for voice calls. All of this adds hidden pressure to IT and Facilities teams, consuming time, resources and budgets that could be better spent on proactive, strategic initiatives that align with business objectives.
4. Poor workplace experience
Workplace experience now plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top talent. Employees now expect the same seamless connectivity in the office that they enjoy at home.
Inconsistent mobile signal undermines collaboration, limits flexibility (especially in open-plan or hybrid hot-desking environments) and causes unnecessary stress during day-to-day interactions. The frustration of not being able to make a call from your desk shouldn’t be part of the modern workplace experience. By contrast, a building with strong, consistent mobile coverage signals demonstrates that an organisation values both efficiency and employee wellbeing.
5. Missed opportunities for landlords and asset managers
Mobile connectivity has become a core requirement for commercial offices. Occupiers assess location, environmental credentials and smart building capabilities, but they now also expect reliable indoor mobile signal to be part of the building’s digital infrastructure.
For landlords and asset managers, the implications are clear. Poor in-building mobile performance can undermine leasing appeal, reduce tenant satisfaction and affect long-term asset value. Connectivity issues within office buildings, whether in lobbies, tenant floors or meeting rooms, reflect poorly on the building’s readiness to support modern business needs.
Enabling reliable mobile connectivity: The competitive edge
At Wireless Infrastructure Group, we design, implement and operate mobile infrastructure that enables reliable signal indoors, supporting all UK mobile network operators with 2G – 5G coverage. Our fully managed solutions are discreet, cost-effective and tailored to the unique architecture and usage patterns of your building. We have the experience of working with MNOs, landlords and tenants, meaning we can align everyone’s needs from day one.
To find out more about our mobile connectivity solutions, click here.
