Blog: Future-proofing Canary Wharf: How office buildings are ensuring high-quality cellular connectivity for the decade ahead
At the heart of London’s financial district, Canary Wharf has evolved beyond its origins as a corporate hub. Today, it’s a vibrant mixed-use destination, combining Grade-A office towers, retail, food and beverage and a thriving residential neighbourhood. As landlords compete for high-value tenants, ranging from global financial institutions to tech start-ups, one factor that is becoming increasingly non-negotiable is seamless indoor cellular connectivity.
Why dedicated cellular networks are now core infrastructure
Hybrid and flexible working
Hybrid and flexible working models have transformed expectations in the modern workplace. Employees expect to stay connected wherever they choose to work within the building, whether that’s a collaborative open-plan office, a quiet corner of the breakout lounge or the café on the ground floor. The days of being tied to a desk or relying on patchy, unreliable Wi-Fi are firmly in the past.
For businesses, reliable cellular connectivity is essential to keeping teams productive and engaged, ensuring their workday flows without disruption. This means enabling seamless video conferencing, secure access to cloud-hosted documents and uninterrupted collaboration through platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Slack.
Smart building technology
The rise of smart building technology has redefined what “connected” means in commercial real estate. From IoT sensors that track occupancy and air quality, to Building Management Systems (BMS) that control heating, cooling and lighting in real time, these systems rely on robust, high-quality connectivity to function efficiently.
Smart technology is a major selling point for corporate occupiers looking to improve operational efficiency, meet ESG targets and create a more comfortable, sustainable workplace. Without reliable cellular connectivity, these technologies underperform, damaging both building performance and tenant satisfaction. Futureproofing smart building applications with a robust cellular connectivity solution ensures that smart systems deliver maximum ROI.
Health, safety and compliance
In any commercial building, especially within a busy financial hub like Canary Wharf, safety is paramount. Mission-critical voice services, from fire alarms and lift emergency lines to direct connections with blue-light and security services, must always work flawlessly.
Reliable indoor cellular connectivity plays a direct role in meeting health and safety regulations and ensuring rapid response in emergencies. Emergency mass notifications and real-time location tracking systems all depend on cellular connectivity in every area of the building, including basements, stairwells, plant rooms and loading bays, where signal is typically weakest.
Commercial advantage
In the commercial real estate market, where Grade-A office space is plentiful, the quality of a building’s cellular connectivity can directly influence leasing outcomes. Increasingly, reliable indoor cellular connectivity is a key requirement for tenant RFPs and is often ranked alongside location and sustainability credentials.
Buildings with proven multi-operator connectivity, backed by indoor connectivity solutions such as a Distributed Antenna System (DAS), can command higher rental values, reduce void periods and strengthen tenant loyalty by eliminating poor cellular signal, one of the most common post-occupancy complaints.
Investing in future-ready cellular infrastructure is not just a technical upgrade it’s a strategic differentiator that positions a property as a premium, connected workplace for forward-thinking businesses.
How Canary Wharf buildings are futureproofing with WIG
WIG works in partnership with building owners and operators at Canary Wharf to deliver in-building cellular networks that meet today’s connectivity demands while seamlessly adapting to the technologies of tomorrow.
Our shared wireless infrastructure approach minimises installation disruption, reduces costs for both landlords and tenants, and preserves the aesthetic integrity of premium office environments. Because the platform is shared, future upgrades, such as adding new spectrum or boosting capacity, can be implemented quickly and without intrusive works. Every system is 5G ready at launch, insuring they are future proofed at the outset and can support advanced applications without the need for major re-engineering. Our networks also support the highest levels of security as standard, ensuring connections for sensitive applications are robust and protected from unauthorised access.
The ROI for landlords
Investing in a future-ready cellular network delivers tangible returns. Buildings with proven multi-operator connectivity see higher tenant satisfaction scores, leading to stronger retention rates and the ability to command premium rents. Operational costs are reduced through fewer on-site interventions and faster issue resolution, while improved connectivity supports ESG goals through real-time energy management and reduced carbon footprints. In addition, robust cellular infrastructure ensures compliance with safety regulations and guarantees the performance of emergency communications.
For building owners and managers, now is the ideal time to assess in-building cellular coverage and partner with a provider who can align connectivity with refurbishment programmes, leasing strategies and long-term asset value.
To find out more about our cellular connectivity solutions, click here.
