Beautiful spaces. Premium coffee. Shaky mobile signal?
Co-working spaces have redefined what the modern office looks like. Design-led interiors. Wellness rooms. Phone booths. Event spaces. But beneath the polished surfaces of London’s most premium co-working spaces lies a surprising truth: mobile signal often isn’t part of the package.
At Proptivity, we recently analysed mobile coverage inside 10 of London’s most high-end co-working facilities. These are among the most expensive shared workspaces in Europe — attracting companies and individuals willing to pay a premium for a premium experience.
But what about mobile connectivity? Does the reality match the price tag?
The Results (Spoiler: It’s Not Great)
Using big data from our partner Ookla (yes, the Speedtest people), we mapped mobile signal quality inside these 10 co-working locations.
Here’s what we found:
- 44% of spaces were either unusable or struggling when it comes to mobile signal (worse than -100 dBm)
- 43% were good enough (-100 dBm to -80 dBm)
- Only 13% delivered crystal clear connectivity (better than -80 dBm)
And the gap between best and worst was striking:
🔹 Worst performer has 76% of the co-working space in the “Unusable/Struggling” category
🔹 Best performer only has 25% in that same category
Why Co-working Tenants Are Going Mobile-First
Mobile connectivity isn’t just a convenience anymore — it’s often the preferred way to work. Why?
🔐 Many companies block or discourage public/guest Wi-Fi due to security concerns.
📱 Employees increasingly use 5G-enabled laptops, tablets, and mobile hotspots.
Mobile is private, secure, and controllable — unlike shared Wi-Fi in a crowded co-working space.
Everyday Behaviours That Make Bad Signal Even Worse
Working in co-working spaces often means moving around during the day. But many of the things we all do instinctively are actually signal killers:
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Jumping into that trendy, glass-walled phone booth? 🎶 Welcome to No Signal FM.
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Taking a video call in the stylish but windowless meeting room? 🔽 You might as well be underground.
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Walking from your desk to the garage during a call? 🚫 Hello, dropped connection.
Co-working spaces often amplify the very challenges mobile signals already face in modern buildings: dense walls, reflective surfaces, energy-efficient glass, and unpredictable movement patterns.
Why This Matters (A Lot)
Reliable indoor mobile coverage isn’t a nice-to-have anymore — it’s basic infrastructure. Without it, co-working tenants risk:
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Missed client calls
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Frustrating video call glitches
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Dropped MFA authentications
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Reduced productivity
And operators risk churn. Because when connectivity becomes a problem, tenants remember.
The Good News? It’s Fixable
Installing dedicated indoor 4G/5G infrastructure transforms co-working spaces from stylish-but-frustrating into true mobile-first workplaces.
No more signal dead zones. No more call drop anxiety. Just seamless connectivity that matches the premium vibe these spaces are selling.
Want to know how your coworking space performs?
Proptivity can map the real mobile experience in your building using big data from Ookla or an on-site walk test. No assumptions. Just facts.
Get in touch. Because great spaces deserve great connectivity.