BT Group says EE has now deployed over 1,000 small cells across the UK, adding 400 new sites in the past year, including its first 5G small cells in Croydon, London. These miniature mobile masts enhance network performance in high-demand areas and can be easily installed on street infrastructure like BT's red phone kiosks, digital street hubs, and lampposts.
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First 5G Small Cells Under Trial
EE said it expanded its small cell 4G coverage last year in cities such as Cardiff, Dundee, Luton, Norwich, and Stoke-on-Trent, as well as in summer hotspots like Torbay and Cumbria.
The newly deployed 5G small cells in Croydon are currently under trial at seven sites, including four along London Road, a bustling area with heavy foot traffic. These 5G sites manage over 3TB of data daily, offering faster speeds and improved network capacity. BT claims these are EE's first 5G small cells to go live.
BT Group said: "Small cells are an integral component within our mobile network, ensuring that even in the busiest places our customers have access to the full performance of the UK’s best network. To reach 1,000 deployments, including our first 5G sites, demonstrates our commitment to delivering unrivalled mobile connectivity to all four corners of the UK."
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Advanced Network Analytics
According to BT Group, EE uses advanced network analytics to identify specific locations that would benefit from the performance boost enabled by a small cell. It then works with network gear partners to deploy the solution.
Enhanced Connectivity
EE's deployment uses a combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum to deliver high-speed connectivity, with up to 300 Mbps for 4G and 600 Mbps for 5G. EE said it combines licensed 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum with unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum in its 4G small cells, which helps deliver capacity and speeds.
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BT noted that Croydon is the first UK town to trial EE's 5G small cells, promising enhanced mobile connectivity for residents, businesses, and visitors. The new 5G cells in Croydon are configured with a licensed 1800 MHz spectrum for 4G and 3.5 GHz for 5G.
