Virgin Media O2 adds 4G and 5G small cells to Westminster lampposts

Virgin Media O2 said it is installing 4G and 5G small cells on lampposts in the City of Westminster in London to improve mobile coverage and network capacity.

TL;DR

• Virgin Media O2 is using lamppost-mounted small cells in Westminster, London.
• The deployment is intended to improve 4G and 5G coverage and capacity.
• The report appeared in Light Reading's EMEA roundup alongside updates involving Freshwave, Telefónica, Tekmoni, and eSIM Go.

Virgin Media O2 is deploying small cells, which are low-power mobile base stations used to improve local coverage and capacity, on street lampposts in Westminster. The deployment targets one of central London's busiest areas, where dense footfall and building layouts can create mobile network congestion and coverage gaps.

The Light Reading roundup said the Westminster project is aimed at boosting both 4G and 5G service. The source excerpt did not state how many lamppost sites are involved, when the rollout starts, or whether Freshwave or another infrastructure partner is supporting the deployment.

The same roundup also referenced separate regional updates: Freshwave bringing connectivity to a Fleet Street landmark, Telefónica preparing connectivity for Oktoberfest, and Tekmoni and eSIM Go targeting the charity sector. The source material provided here did not include further technical or commercial details on those announcements.

Related questions

• What are small cells and how do they improve 4G and 5G coverage?
• Where is Virgin Media O2 deploying lamppost-mounted mobile infrastructure?
• What details has Light Reading reported about the Westminster coverage project?