A series of partnership with local authorities will allow BT to boost mobile coverage by installing over 500 small cell antennas on street furniture such as lamp posts and CCTV columns.
BT is also using its own assets, including phone boxes and its Street Hub 2.0 digital units, so its mobile arm EE can house hundreds of small cells to boost capacity in high demand areas.
The small cells will be deployed across the UK including the following areas: Birmingham, Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Greater London (including numerous London boroughs), Greater Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester and Cardiff
The infrastructure will be delivered over the next 18 months and can also support 5G network coverage in the future.
Brian More O’Ferrall, Director, Mobile Operators in BT’s Enterprise business, said: “Around 200 of the small cells are already live and are helping to boost 4G coverage for EE customers in towns and cities across the UK.
“We have worked closely with our local authority partners to utilise their street furniture, as well as our own assets, to improve connectivity in these areas.”
Councillor Muhammad Ali, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for sustainable Croydon, said: “With 12 EE small cells already installed and an additional 20 to follow over the next 18 months, our existing street furniture, together with BT assets, can provide a simple and efficient solution to fast-track mobile network infrastructure in our borough.”