The Shard

The Solution

Towering over the Thames at a height of 310 metres, The Shard is the tallest completed building in the UK. A glass-clad multi-faceted pyramid, The Shard dominates the Southwark skyline and has since its opening in 2012 become one of London’s most recognisable landmarks.

Brentwood Communications supported developers Mace throughout the three year construction period. First of all, we supplied a trunked digital two way radio system hired to support building operations. Then towards the end of construction we installed a permanent communications infrastructure to be used by security and facilities management operatives in the completed building.

At 72 storeys high, coverage throughout the building was a major challenge. We chose Motorola MotoTRBO digital handsets for their powerful output, superb audio clarity and extensive range of additional features. These included Lone Worker and Emergency Button functions to support health and safety protocols. The display radios also provided multiple channels, which meant dedicated channels could be assigned for security and emergency calling. To improve coverage throughout the giant structure, we also installed repeater units and digital antenna system (DAS). To prevent interference from other two way radio networks in the surrounding area, all equipment was supplied on a Technically Assigned License with its own dedicated spectrum.