20 Fenchurch Street, better known as London’s Walkie Talkie Building, is a 38-storey commercial skyscraper in the heart of the City of London. MTech has supported communication at the site from its original construction through to the building’s ongoing day to day operation.
Today, a number of teams work across the building including security, front of house, cleaning, engineering and tenant services. Reliable communication between these departments is important for coordinating daily activity and maintaining a safe and efficient environment.
Supporting Communication Across a Landmark Building
Communication was essential throughout the construction of 20 Fenchurch Street, where teams needed to remain connected across a large and complex development.
Once the building became fully operational, its communication requirements changed considerably. Multiple departments needed to use the radio network at the same time while shared channels were also required to support communication with the London Fire Brigade.
The system therefore needed to provide dependable coverage, accommodate a high number of users and offer the flexibility to support the building’s requirements over the long term.
MTech initially supplied two way radios for teams working on the construction project. As the site moved into full operation, this developed into a Capacity Plus digital radio system integrated with TRBOnet to provide greater visibility across the network.
Multiple talk groups allow individual departments to communicate effectively while the system has the capacity to accommodate the high number of users working throughout the building.
System Design and Equipment
The digital radio network includes a Capacity Plus system supported by three repeaters and a dedicated base station. More than 50 Motorola DP4800e digital two way radios were also supplied for teams working across the site.
This setup increased the number of available communication channels and provided the capacity required for different departments while also supporting coordination with the London Fire Brigade.
MTech also works with Bidvest Noonan through a Managed Service Contract, providing ongoing maintenance and technical support for the communication system.
Continued Support and Security Improvements
As part of the Managed Service Contract, Bidvest Noonan has access to 24-hour support for critical issues as well as radio repairs and temporary loan equipment when required.
The system has continued to develop alongside the site’s requirements. In 2023, Motorola VB400 body worn cameras were introduced to further support security teams working throughout the building.
Further radio upgrades are also planned, including the introduction of GPS tracking and Bluetooth functionality.
Supporting Day to Day Operations
The communication network allows teams across 20 Fenchurch Street to stay connected throughout their working day while also supporting emergency coordination with the London Fire Brigade.
Ongoing maintenance and technical support help keep the system performing consistently while the addition of body worn cameras and planned radio upgrades continue to strengthen security and incident response across the site.
Built for the Future
By combining a reliable digital radio network with ongoing managed support, MTech has provided 20 Fenchurch Street and Bidvest Noonan with a communication system that can continue to develop alongside the building’s operational and security requirements.
