EE UK Deploy 50 Extra Freshwave 5G Small Cells in Central London to Boost Mobile

Wireless infrastructure provider Freshwave has today revealed that they’ve worked with UK mobile operator EE (BT) to deploy a further 50 new Small Cell based outdoor 4G and 5G mobile (mobile broadband) units across the City of London area, which are helping to expand the network operator’s coverage and performance.

Small cells are akin to small 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. this can be more cost-effective than building new street assets or trying to secure wayleaves on buildings etc.).

EE began trialling Freshwave’s new outdoor small cell mobile network in the central ‘Square Mile’ area of London during 2022 (here) and they’ve since expanded it several times (here). The latest sites will add to the previous delivery of 35 sites for the operator, with a further already 34 in-build.

The network is said to use a “first-of-its-kind design” by Freshwave, which is made to accommodate all the MNOs on 4G and 5G from day one, with no adjustments needed to the infrastructure. The latest expansion should boost mobile signals for EE customers outside iconic City landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Old Bailey and Guildhall, extending to areas surrounding the Barbican as well as along Fleet Street.

Simon Frumkin, CEO at Freshwave, said:

“We’re proud to be working in close partnership with the City of London Corporation and EE on expanding this pioneering multi-operator network across the Square Mile. This project is a great example of how innovative engineering can deliver real-world impact in even the most complex urban environments. We’re excited to keep building on this momentum to support the UK’s digital economy.”

James Hope, Director of Mobile Radio Access Networks at EE, said:

“As demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity continues to grow, we’re proud to be expanding our mobile network in the heart of the City of London. These additional sites will further boost performance and resilience for residents and visitors alike, with robust mobile connectivity being key to supporting the City’s digital future. Working with trusted partners like Freshwave, we’re committed to delivering the best 4G and 5G experience, even in the most data-demanding environments.”

EE is already seeing an average of 125TB (TeraBytes) of data downloaded per week across all its Freshwave-deployed sites in the City (up from 7.5TB last year, in their initial pilot deployment). Freshwave added that more than 5,000,000 sq ft of commercial building space in the City of London also benefits from multi-operator mobile connectivity thanks to their indoor deployments.