Virgin Media O2 has trialled an innovative way to improve mobile coverage by using its existing fixed fibre network together with compact smart poles. This approach aims to strengthen local mobile services across the UK by combining fibre-powered infrastructure with small cell technology.
The pilot, carried out with shareholder Liberty Global, placed small, unobtrusive smart poles next to Virgin Media’s street fibre cabinets. These poles are far smaller than conventional masts, can be installed quickly—often within a day—and typically do not require planning permission. Each pole houses small cell equipment that boosts mobile capacity and coverage in busy urban locations.
“As we continue investing to upgrade and expand our network, we’re always looking for new ways to work smarter and deliver more for our customers,” said Jeanie York, CTO at Virgin Media O2. “Groundbreaking trials like this can help boost mobile coverage and bring next‑generation services to even more customers.”
In a UK first, these smart poles draw power from Virgin Media’s fibre network using so-called “digital electricity,” which transmits power through the same fibre infrastructure that carries data. The fibre network therefore serves a dual role: delivering electricity to the on‑street poles and providing data backhaul from the small cells to the internet.
By mounting small cells on the poles, the service adds capacity to the local mobile network, alleviating congestion and improving the user experience in dense areas where demand is highest. This deployment model enables a faster, more environmentally friendly rollout of mobile capacity compared with building full‑size masts.
Traditional mobile site deployment can involve lengthy processes—securing planning permission, installing radio gear, arranging connections to the power grid, and provisioning fibre backhaul. Leveraging its converged fixed network allows Virgin Media O2 to install small cells rapidly, attach them to existing fibre cabinets, and avoid separate power or backhaul installations in many cases.
With roughly 25,000 street cabinets across the UK connected to the National Grid, Virgin Media O2 has a large footprint it can use to power these smart poles and meet urban mobile capacity needs for years ahead. The poles can also host additional smart city technology such as electric vehicle chargers, presenting potential new revenue opportunities and supporting wider urban infrastructure goals.
“The ability to use our existing national fixed network to backhaul and power small cells could be transformational—helping us save time and money, open up new revenue streams, support smart city technology and fully leverage the benefits of our scaled converged network,” York added.
(Image Credit: Virgin Media O2)
See also: UK Government urges more telecoms infrastructure sharing
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