The new wireless network includes a combination of Wi-Fi for free public access – now live – and 4G small cells, available to carry traffic for all UK MNOs. Small cells and Wi-Fi access points are being deployed on street furniture including lampposts, street signs, and CCTV columns, to improve wireless coverage and capacity in the heart of London’s financial centre.
The neutral host backhaul of the Wi-Fi and small cells network is built on CCS Metnet – which the company claims is the “world’s only self-organising 5G microwave backhaul – operating in the licensed area-based 28GHz band”. Fibre will also be deployed at strategic points to aggregate the traffic from the Metnet nodes – which are described as being small and discreet – for connectivity into the Wi-Fi and small cell core networks. Metnet was selected as the backhaul backbone having satisfied all the key requirements for deployment in a dense urban area for neutral host Wi-Fi and small cell connectivity.
The Square Mile deployment delivers a dense and advanced microwave and access network, providing next-generation coverage and capacity. The ultra-fast Wi-Fi network service is now launched, and the small cell deployment is currently underway.
Derek McManus, chief operating officer at O2 said: “We’re very proud to be delivering a world-class infrastructure project, in conjunction with CCS. Reliable, high performance backhaul is absolutely key to realising the quality of wireless service that’s now desired by businesses and consumers in the City of London. Using this solution we’re able to give people what they need wherever they are in the area – reliable and high speed internet on the go. ”
Commenting on the project, CCS CEO Steve Greaves said: “We are very excited to be deploying Metnet to enable enhanced wireless coverage and performance in the number one global financial centre. The Square Mile’s tall buildings and narrow streets have posed significant mobile service problems for the City’s 400,000 workers and 10 million annual visitors – issues that our self-organising mesh-based Metnet system is uniquely positioned to solve. This solution delivers a significant boost in browsing speeds, and offer the ability to access high-bandwidth services – such as video streaming – on demand over a free Wi-Fi network.”
