Virgin Media O2 launched providers in June 2021 as a three way partnership between Liberty International and Telefónica within the U.Okay.
U.Okay. provider Virgin Media O2 mentioned it put in greater than 1,300 small cells throughout London, claiming the biggest deployment of any main operator within the U.Okay.
The operator famous that this know-how is enabling the corporate to speed up its 4G and 5G rollout in a extra environmentally pleasant means whereas boosting capability in sure areas.
The small cells, which usually have a spread of 80-120 meters, can goal congestion throughout the community and add capability as required, Virgin Media O2 mentioned.
The telco mentioned that the small cells deployment in London is being carried out with a lot of companions, together with Cellnex UK, Freshwave, Ontix and the Metropolis of London.
The know-how makes use of licensed L18 / 1800 MHz airwaves, with some preliminary trial areas utilizing 2.6 GHz spectrum.
Virgin Media O2 additionally mentioned it has developed a small cells answer which will be deployed inside bus shelters. The trials, created in partnership with Freshwave, contain new small cells related to fiber inside bus shelters, that are additionally 5G prepared. In the same trial, Virgin Media O2 can also be trialing a brand new payphone deployment throughout websites in Westminster with Cellnex UK.
Virgin Media O2 plans to develop its community outdoors London, with a lot of pilots in play throughout the U.Okay. as the corporate considers that the profitable trials open up the opportunity of rolling out small cell options at scale throughout the U.Okay. to spice up Virgin Media O2’s 4G and 5G networks.
Theo Blackwell, chief digital officer for London, mentioned: “That is additional excellent news for London’s digital infrastructure. It comes about by our partnerships on the bottom between boroughs and telecommunications, supporting native rollouts. Small cells don’t simply imply a lot better connections, additionally they increase jobs and development, serving to us to construct a greater London for everybody. It’s nice to see this funding persevering with throughout London.”
Jeanie York, CTO at Virgin Media O2, mentioned: “Constructing a 5G community is a fancy job, so we’re continuously taking a look at methods to create efficiencies through collaboration with companions that can finally profit our clients. Applied sciences corresponding to small cells assist us enhance community bandwidth, which permits us to maintain up with buyer demand, with knowledge site visitors ranges rising 34% yr on yr.”
Virgin Media O2 launched providers in June 2021 as a three way partnership between Liberty International and Telefónica within the U.Okay.
Liberty International and Telefonica had reached an settlement to merge their U.Okay. operations in a 50-50 three way partnership in Might of 2020. That very same month, the U.Okay.’s Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) determined to permit the proposed merger between cell operator O2 and Virgin Media.
The corporate, which has dedicated to investing at the very least £10 billion (presently $12.04 billion) within the U.Okay., delivered 5G to over 2,000 websites throughout the nation final yr and now has 5G protection in areas spanning 300 cities and cities. The operator had additionally dedicated to succeed in 50% of the U.Okay.’s inhabitants with its 5G providers in 2023.
