Visitors, residents, businesses and students in Reading town centre will begin to benefit from an improved mobile experience and faster speeds after the first Virgin Media O2 small cells are deployed across the Borough.
Virgin Media O2 and Ontix partnered to bring small cells to Reading where the innovative technology is already boosting mobile capacity and reducing network traffic in major destinations at busy times.
The small cells have been deployed in some of the busiest areas across the town, including at Reading Station, Reading College, Reading Museum, the Abbey Ruins, and the Oracle Shopping Centre. With over 20 million people passing through Reading Station and over a million through the Oracle Shopping Centre each year, the small cells will provide a crucial boost to network capacity for these high-footfall areas, helping both residents and visitors.
By using small cells, which are quicker and easier to deploy, Virgin Media O2 customers are benefiting from improved coverage faster than would otherwise be possible. The operator is working with Ontix on a rollout across the country.
Previously, Virgin Media O2 and Ontix have closely worked together to deploy small cells in high-demand areas including London, Birmingham and the South East of England, as well as a recent deployment in Skegness. Small cells continue to bring value as a cost-effective solution to improving network capacity in dense urban environments, commercial centres and visitor hotspots.
Richard Williams, Director of Acquisition at Ontix, said: “We’re proud to be the first Neutral Host company bringing small cells to Reading. Working closely with Virgin Media O2, we ensured the delivery of this project was speedy, cost-effective and power-efficient. From local businesses, commuters and university students to shoppers and tourists seeking cultural hotspots, small cells provide faster network speeds and reduced network congestion for all, and we’re excited to see the results of this across Reading.”
Steven Verigotta, Director of Radio & Mobile Backhaul Delivery at Virgin Media O2, said: “Small cells are an effective way of increasing local network bandwidth in busy areas and play an important role in allowing us to keep up with customer demand.”
“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.”
Source: https://totaltele.com/vmo2-and-ontix-partner-on-4g-small-cells-in-reading/