OXFORD is set to be the first of three major UK cities to enjoy a 5G speed boost after the wind down of ageing 3G services.
and O2 customers will be the first to access the “enhanced” , mobile infrastructure services provider, Cornerstone has announced.
Cornerstone is plotting a small cell network that will deliver “next-generation connectivity through existing street lighting infrastructure”.
The company, which handles the UK network sharing agreement between Vodafone and O2, is deploying the citywide network this year.
Small cells are shoebox-sized radio stations that push out 5G signals up to around 100metres.
They can be attached to buildings, stadiums, and streetlights in populated areas to ensure each mobile user has access to a strong mobile data signal.
Areas with lots of people traffic can experience network congestion.
Like a busy motorway, if the network has lots of mobile users trying to use 5G it can slow things down for everyone.
The new deployment in Oxford is being supported by lighting company Signify and platform provider Dense Air.
“By turning street lighting into connected infrastructure, we’re enabling cities to grow smarter without growing messier,”; Khalid Aziz, of Signify, said.
Pat Coxen, CEO of Cornerstone, said: “Our Oxford deployment is a prime example of how we are working with partners and local authorities to transform urban infrastructure, support economic growth, and create more connected communities.”
Small cells are not a new technology for 5G – they were also deployed in 3G and 4G networks.
Vodafone began its 3G switch-off in Oxford in June 2023, and has since
Virgin Media O2, and expects to complete it by 31 December 2025.
While the change is coming to O2, it will affect other operators that use the network, including Mobile, GiffGaff and Sky Mobile.
“Like other networks in the UK and abroad, we're switching off our 3G network so that we can focus on our faster, more reliable and more energy-efficient 4G and 5G networks,” O2 says in a help page on its website.
Cornerstone, alongside Signify and Dense Air, said they will roll out similar small cell networks in two more UK cities in 2025.
Additional locations are expected to follow at a later date, according to the company's involved, although no details have been shared.
