Case Study- Überseequartier
SOLiD & Deutsche Telekom
SOLiD, in partnership with Deutsche Telekom, are proud to announce the successful deployment of a cutting-edge, robust mobile connectivity solution for the Westfield Überseequartier, a monumental inner-city development in Hamburg, Germany.
SOLiD, in partnership with Deutsche Telekom, are proud to announce the successful deployment of a cutting-edge, robust mobile connectivity solution for the Westfield Überseequartier, a monumental inner-city development in Hamburg, Germany. This ambitious project stands as one of Europe’s largest active antenna deployments, showcasing SOLiD’s expertise in navigating the complexities of a vast multi-tenant environment.
The deployed Distributed Antenna System (DAS) ensures extensive coverage across 410,000sqm, providing future-ready 5G MIMO capabilities alongside legacy 4G support, and facilitating seamless multi-operator functionality within this dynamic urban hub. This implementation enables the site to fully support all of Germany’s telecom operators.
This project follows SOLiD’s successful implementation in both Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City shipping centers in the UK. These projects involved the deployment of new IT infrastructure covering the 4.5m square feet across the two locations.
Overview
The Westfield Überseequartier in Hamburg, Germany, represents a groundbreaking urban development, reimagining the concept of a modern city district. This colossal inner-city project is designed as a vibrant, multi-faceted destination, encompassing an impressive array of facilities.
At its core, it features 170 retail stores and 40 unique dining experiences, promising a rich retail and culinary landscape. Beyond commerce, the Überseequartier is a cultural and residential hub, boasting a new art museum, three distinct hotels, and even a dedicated cruise ship terminal, catering to both local and international visitors. The residential component is equally significant, with 1,000 apartments and 1,150 hotel rooms, creating a bustling community within its bounds. Spanning an immense 410,000 square meters, this development is a true testament to modern urban planning.
However, the sheer scale and diverse functionality of the Westfield Überseequartier presented a significant challenge: ensuring seamless, high-capacity mobile connectivity across its entire footprint. With high foot traffic from shoppers, residents, tourists, and business professionals, the demand for reliable mobile service was paramount. The project required an infrastructure capable of supporting not only current mobile communication needs but also future technological advancements, ensuring a future-proof solution for this dynamic and evolving environment.
Überseequartier is the biggest shopping center in the north of Europe and hosts tens of thousands of visitors and employees. As a combined facility for entertainment, shopping, residential, office space and hotels, different capacity demands exist throughout the venue. SOLiD was able to demonstrate the high efficiency of a modern digital DAS (Distributed Antenna System) proving best throughput in multi-operator environment. SOLiD GENESIS is perfect for this and allows for best energy efficiency and supports ORAN feeding.”
- Ingo Flömer, VP Business Development EMEA
The Challenge
The Westfield Überseequartier project presented a complex challenge that demanded an innovative and robust connectivity solution. Its sheer scale and diverse functionalities created a complex environment with unique demands for mobile network infrastructure.
● Complexity of a Mixed-Use Environment:
The Überseequartier is a complex collection of different functions, each with distinct connectivity requirements.
● Scale of the Project:
This development is recognized as the largets shopping center in Northern Europe and the “biggest inner city development project” in Hamburg, underscoring its unprecedented size and ambition. Correspondingly, the mobile connectivity aspect became “one of the largest active antenna projects in Europe,” necessitating more than 800 repeaters/low-power modules and a solution capable of handling immense coverage and capacity requirements without compromise.
● Technological Requirements:
The project demanded a sophisticated network capable of supporting both current and future mobile technologies.
● Coverage Demands:
With an expansive “410,000 sqm covered,” the challenge was to provide uniform, high-quality mobile signal strength and capacity across every corner of the development – from underground parking to high-rise apartments, bustling retail floors, and expansive public spaces. This required meticulous planning and a highly efficient Distributed Antenna System.
The Solution
To address the complex connectivity challenges presented by the Westfield Überseequartier, Deutsche Telekom partnered with SOLiD, leveraging SOLiD’s proven expertise in delivering high-performance, modular, and scalable Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS).
Deployment Details:
The solution involved a multi-faceted deployment strategy:
● Primary Coverage:
At the core of the solution was the deployment of more than 800 active antennas strategically placed throughout the main public areas, retail spaces, hotels, and residential zones. These active components ensured high-capacity and high-speed connectivity where demand was highest..
● System Architecture:
SOLiD’s DAS architecture provided a centralized head-end unit that distributed mobile signals via fiber optic cables to remote units located throughout the 410,000 sqm. These remote units then converted the optical signals into radio frequency (RF) signals, broadcast through the active and hybrid antennas. This design ensured optimal signal quality, minimal interference, and efficient management.
● Scalability & Flexibility:
A key advantage of SOLiD’s modular DAS was its inherent scalability. The system was designed to allow for easy expansion and upgrades, ensuring that as mobile technology evolves (e.g., future 5G advancements) or as user demands increase, the infrastructure can adapt without significant overhauls. This flexibility also facilitated the seamless integration of multiple mobile network operators onto a single, shared platform.
The Benefits
The successful implementation of SOLiD’s DAS at the Westfield Überseequartier has yielded significant results, transforming the development into a truly connected urban hub and delivering substantial benefits to all stakeholders.
● Seamless User Experience:
The primary outcome is the provision of high-speed, reliable 4G and 5G connectivity for every visitor, resident, and business operating within the sprawling 410,000 sqm. This means shoppers can effortlessly browse, make payments, and share their experiences; hotel guests and residents enjoy uninterrupted access for work, entertainment, and communication; and businesses benefit from robust connectivity for their operations.
● Operational Efficiency for Deutsche Telekom:
For Deutsche Telekom, the SOLiD DAS solution has delivered considerable operational advantages. It enables efficient multi-operator sharing of infrastructure, eliminating the need for each mobile network operator to deploy its own separate, costly, and potentially interfering equipment. This shared infrastructure approach translates into simplified management and maintenance of the network, reducing operational complexities and costs for Deutsche Telekom.
● Future-Proof Infrastructure:
The deployed DAS is not merely a solution for today’s needs; it represents a future-proof infrastructure capable of evolving with technological advancements. Its design ensures readiness for increasing data demands and future mobile technology advancements, including the full potential of 5G standalone and beyond. The modularity of SOLiD’s system also provides the agility to easily integrate new operators or services as the market evolves, safeguarding the long-term value of the investment.
● Project Scale Success:
The completion of this project stands as a testament to the successful deployment of one of Europe’s largest and most complex active antenna projects. It demonstrates the capability to manage and execute a connectivity solution on an unprecedented scale, meeting the stringent demands of a colossal inner-city development
● Economic Impact:
The provision of ubiquitous, high-performance mobile connectivity directly contributes to the commercial success and attractiveness of Westfield Überseequartier. Reliable mobile service is a critical amenity that enhances visitor dwell time, encourages digital engagement, supports retail transactions, and improves the overall appeal for residents and businesses, thereby driving economic activity within this landmark development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the partnership between SOLiD and Deutsche Telekom at the Westfield Überseequartier stands as a landmark achievement in large-scale urban connectivity.
SOLiD’s modular and scalable Distributed Antenna System successfully addressed the immense challenges of providing seamless, high-capacity, multi-operator mobile coverage across 410,000 sqm of diverse retail, hospitality, residential, and entertainment spaces.
By deploying one of Europe’s largest active antenna projects, SOLiD has not only delivered a superior mobile experience for thousands of users but also provided Deutsche Telekom with a future-proof, operationally efficient, and economically beneficial infrastructure. This project exemplifies SOLiD’s expertise in handling the most complex in-building wireless demands, solidifying the Westfield Überseequartier’s status as a truly connected and modern urban destination.
