Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Telecom Site Design with Expert Guidance
Tackling a telecom site design project can feel like navigating a maze, one wrong turn and you’re wading through cost overruns, delays or poor coverage. In this post, we’ll share the most common traps we see at Rapid Wireless and how you can steer clear of them. Whether you’re planning a rooftop link or rolling out a private 5G network, these insights will help you get it right first time. 1. Skipping the Site Survey Don’t Underestimate the Ground Truth It’s tempting to dive straight into equipment selection, but a detailed site survey is your project’s compass. Weather, foliage and local planning quirks can all throw up obstacles you won’t spot on Google Maps. How we help: At Rapid Wireless, we leverage drone photography alongside advanced RF analysis to map potential blockages before ordering any equipment. 2. Mis-Sizing Towers and Masts Balancing Height, Load and Permits Picking the cheapest mast height or ignoring soil testing often leads to retrofits or worse, structural failures. Planning permission timelines can also catch you off-guard. Rapid Wireless Approach: We marry structural engineering assessments with local authority liaisons, so your mast stands firm and lawful. 3. Overlooking Spectrum Licensing Compliance Isn’t Optional Ofcom licences aren’t just paperwork, they define your frequencies, power levels and even your antenna tilt. A licence breach can halt your link and incur fines. Pro Tip: At Rapid Wireless, we initiate your Ofcom application early to leverage the full submission window and prevent any last‑minute headaches. 4. Rushing Microwave Link Commissioning Alignment Is Everything Even the best-planned microwave routes underperform if antennas aren’t perfectly aligned or commissioning tests are skipped. Latency spikes and packet loss love misconfiguration. Our Method: We perform on-site fine-tuning, load testing and spectral scans to guarantee you hit your throughput targets. 5. Neglecting Ongoing Maintenance A Stitch in Time Saves Nine Networks age, firmware needs updating and storms happen. Without a solid Service Level Agreement, you risk prolonged downtime. What We Offer: Scheduled health checks, maintenance & support and rapid-response engineers mean fewer surprises and happier end users. Wrapping Up: Plan, Partner, Prosper Avoiding these design pitfalls comes down to three things: thorough planning, specialist support and proactive maintenance. At Rapid Wireless, our end-to-end services from initial site surveys to post-deployment SLAs mean you can focus on growth while we handle the technical elements. Ready to smooth out your next telecom rollout? Get in touch with our team for a free consultation: