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The tiny base stations will boost 4G mobile capacity in the city centre
Birmingham is set to get a 4G boost this week, with Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) announcing their latest 4G small cell deployments in the city in partnership with Ontix.
Small cells are tiny base stations designed to be deployed in areas of high footfall in order to add capacity to existing mobile networks. Their small size and shorter range mean that these base stations are typically deployed closer to street level, often being attached to existing street furniture like lamp posts.
Ontix specialises these types of deployment, working alongside property owners, local authorities, and mobile operators to facilitate these infrastructure deployments.
This project, supported by the city council and the Soho Road Business Improvement District (BID), will see five additional small cells introduced to the busy areas of Soho Road and Handsworth.
“Small cells are an effective way of increasing local network bandwidth and play an important role in allowing us to keep up with rising customer demand. We are proud to have delivered these new sites in Soho Road and Handsworth, which will unlock opportunities for local residents and businesses,” said Steven Verigotta, Director of Radio & Mobile Backhaul Delivery at VMO2.
“With upgrade programmes underway right across our network, we’re working hard to ensure our customers consistently receive an exceptional network experience wherever they are and even at the busiest times.”
This deployment is an expansion of an existing deal between VMO2 and Ontix, which saw the duo deploy small cells in other parts of Birmingham city centre two years ago.
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