Lifestyle community gains a new level of connectivity

GemLife, a leading developer of over-50s lifestyle communities, was facing challenges with its fixed fibre network, which limited connectivity to indoor areas and lacked support for outdoor and mobile operations. To address these gaps, the company partnered with Prospecta Utilities to deploy a first-in-class, standalone 5G mmWave fixed wireless network.

A gap in network capabilities

GemLife’s over-50s lifestyle communities have long relied on fibre-to-the-premise networks for their connectivity needs. While fibre offers high-speed, low-latency performance indoors, its fixed nature limits coverage to only within the dwellings, leaving outdoor areas and mobile operations unsupported. This limitation created challenges in maintaining connectivity for workers, residents and operations across the entire estate. Additionally, GemLife’s existing fibre infrastructure lacked the ability to support comprehensive infrastructure monitoring or the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which are essential for improving asset management and operational efficiency. This gap in its network capabilities hindered GemLife’s ability to provide a secure, reliable and high-speed network that could meet the evolving needs of both residents and operations.

The challenge was clear: how could GemLife implement a flexible, fibre-like network that not only delivers high-speed connectivity within dwellings but also supports dynamic operational needs such as providing outdoor coverage and enabling connection with smart devices, while also offering real-time visibility of infrastructure?

With the need for a more adaptable, scalable and comprehensive solution, GemLife sought a way to bridge the gap between fibre’s strengths and the increasing demands of modern communities. The company required a network that could provide flexible, high-quality coverage for all areas of its estates, facilitate mobile access and allow for better management of resources, all while supporting the integration of smart technologies to improve efficiency and enhance the resident experience.

A flexible, streamlined solution

GemLife engaged Prospecta Utilities to implement an innovative standalone 5G mmWave fixed wireless network, powered by Airspan’s AIR5G 7200 small cells and utilising spectrum in the 28 GHz band. Delivering fibre-like performance with speeds of up to 2 Gbps and ultra-low latency, this solution offers impressive connectivity across both indoor and outdoor spaces. The network’s flexibility enables GemLife to stay ahead of the curve, providing consistent, high-speed coverage that meets the dynamic needs of its residents and operations, from mobile access to real-time infrastructure monitoring.

For GemLife’s operations, the 5G network has increased efficiency and reduced costs. By extending high-speed coverage beyond fixed indoor connections, Prospecta Utilities’ solution enables outdoor and mobile operations, eliminating the need for extensive wiring and supporting smooth integration of smart devices. This enables the connectivity of IoT devices like waste management sensors, flood detectors, smart meters and more, with the network simplifying operations and providing real-time data to enhance decision-making. Additionally, its integration with a future distributed energy resource (DER) and energy management system will optimise energy usage, further reducing operational costs and increasing sustainability.

The private, high-speed network supports seamless smart home integration, allowing residents to control devices like smart lighting, thermostats and security systems. It also facilitates smart access control systems for managing entry points, arranging deliveries and other IoT-enabled services — all via residents’ smartphones.

With this innovative solution, GemLife transformed its estate management and provided residents with a modern, secure and connected living environment — setting a high standard for smart, tech-enabled communities.

Images courtesy of Prospecta Utilities.