EE, a leading U.K. carrier owned by BT Group, is expanding its 5G coverage in London by deploying 80 small cells in the City of Westminster. In collaboration with Ontix, this initiative boosts both 4G and 5G connectivity, enhancing mobile coverage in one of the U.K.’s busiest areas. These small, unobtrusive mobile masts are cleverly installed on existing structures like lampposts and kiosks.
This move is part of EE’s broader strategy to densify its network. By using small cells, the operator aims to offload capacity from the primary network and improve performance, especially in crowded urban areas. The nearly invisible installation blends seamlessly into the environment while providing necessary network support.
James Hope, Director of Mobile Radio Access Networks at EE, emphasized the project’s significance, noting it serves critical areas like the U.K. government center and popular business districts. Meanwhile, Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group, expressed the company’s vision: “Our ambition is to enable a 5G connection anywhere in the UK by 2028.” With over 80% of the UK population already connected, McCall highlighted progress in extending 5G to rural tourist spots and smaller communities.
Small cells play a vital role in EE’s strategy by managing network traffic and ensuring strong connectivity in high-demand locations. These units are strategically deployed using advanced network analytics to identify optimal locations. EE collaborates with Nordic giants Nokia and Ericsson to provide these small cell solutions.
McCall acknowledged the challenges in monetizing 5G investments. He stated, “We’ve refreshed our network strategy so that we’re laser-focused on developing a fully programmable network which is on-demand, real-time, AI-first and offers best-in-class security capabilities.” The deployment of EE’s 5G Standalone network underscores this strategy by delivering advanced services like AI optimization and network slicing for dedicated quality.