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Digital infrastructure firm Boldyn Networks has this morning announced that they’ve so far deployed over 200 5G capable small cells across busy parts of London, which can be harnessed by all the major mobile network operators (i.e. Vodafone / Three UK, O2 and EE) to boost their coverage, local capacity and mobile broadband performance.
Small cells are shoebox sized mobile (radio) base stations, which are designed to deliver limited coverage (usually up to around 100+ metres) and thus tend to be more focused on busy areas, specific sites or even indoor locations – it’s not uncommon to find these sitting on top of lampposts, CCTV poles or old payphone cubicles (i.e. more cost-effective than building new street assets or trying to secure wayleaves to access buildings etc.).
The ongoing deployment is part of a “broader initiative to enhance mobile connectivity in high-footfall urban areas through scalable, shared infrastructure, supporting London’s smart city ambitions“, said Boldyn Networks. It also supports the London Mayor’s manifesto to improve digital connectivity in London.
The new cells have thus been installed across some of the capital’s busiest areas, such as King’s Cross, Waterloo, London Bridge, Old Street, The Shard and Hyde Park Corner. Most of these have also been deployed at quite a rapid pace, with the operator often targeting a 3-month order-to-activation timeline.
The rollout is partly underpinned by Boldyn’s existing 20-year exclusive concession agreement with Transport for London (TfL), which includes work to build a new fibre network through the re-use of existing TfL ducts etc. This gives them access to more than 80,000 fibre-connected street assets, including on lighting columns, 2,000km of ducts and 400km of underground fibre, without the need for new planning permissions.
Brendan O’Reilly, CEO of UK & Ireland at Boldyn Networks, said:
“By overcoming traditional barriers such as planning delays and high deployment costs, we’ve unlocked a new model for rapid, sustainable connectivity. Through our partnership with TfL, we are delivering high-performance connectivity in high-footfall areas while preserving the city’s aesthetics and minimising disruption. Our small cell strategy is accelerating MNOs 5G rollout today across London and laying the foundations for the smarter, more connected capital of tomorrow.”
What’s not so clear from today’s announcement is the question of how many more small cells are likely to be deployed by Boldyn in London over the next few years, although some of this work is perhaps more demand-led and so tricky to predict.