U.K. mobile network operator, EE, working with neutral host Freshwave, a DigitalBridge Group (NYSE: DBRG) portfolio company, is expanding beyond the trial phase in what they say is a first-of-its-kind outdoor small cell project in the City of London. Twenty-five new sites are now live on Freshwave’s infrastructure, adding capacity and enhancing the 4G and 5G network experience for EE mobile users in the Square Mile, one of the world’s pre-eminent financial and historical districts.
The 25 new live sites are strategically located throughout the Square Mile, including notable landmarks such as outside St Paul’s Cathedral, Cannon Street and the Bank of England on Threadneedle Street. Dozens of additional new sites for EE are also currently being built and will enhance mobile connectivity across more of the Square Mile when they are brought online in the future.
Freshwave built new mobile infrastructure for the project. EE was the first MNO to go live in December 2022. Across all of the sites involved in the initial pilot, EE is seeing up to 7.5 TB of data downloaded per week.
Freshwave says its custom solution enables the network to accommodate all four U.K. MNOs on 4G and 5G from day one with no adjustments needed to the infrastructure, making it a U.K. first. The solution features specially-designed wideband antennas, cabinets and columns, and extensive dark fiber to each cabinet.
As a neutral host, Freshwave says it deploys shareable infrastructure, reducing network equipment duplication and creating a cost-effective solution. The company claims this approach also minimizes street clutter and the associated disruption during street works. Shareable infrastructure also reduces the environmental impact, while still assuring the mobile connectivity people expect as they move around.
Outdoor small cells are installed at street level to add capacity to mobile networks. In busy urban areas, where large numbers of people use their mobile phones simultaneously, demand on the macro network can be substantial. Outdoor small cells help alleviate some of the demand on the macro network and ensure a better experience for users.
“With our customers using more data than ever, we’re committed to ensuring they enjoy the same great experience with EE in more places,” comments James Hope, Director of Mobile Radio Access Networks at EE. “Outdoor small cells are an important part of our mobile network.”
By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor
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