O2 gets 5G ready with network investment in shopping centres, stadia

O2 customers can now take advantage of enhanced mobile connectivity in public spaces such as stadiums, shopping centres, hotels and conference centres as a result of a multi-million pound network collaboration between O2 and Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG).

Sports venues such as Liverpool’s 54,000 capacity Anfield Stadium and Lord’s cricket ground have already benefitted from the installation of new mobile infrastructure operated by WIG to improve coverage and capacity for customers.

Major UK shopping centres benefitting from new or upgraded infrastructure include the Bentall Centre in Kingston, Bluewater in Kent, Meadowhall in Sheffield, and a host of INTU properties including Milton Keynes, Eldon Square, Metrocentre, Lakeside, Derby, Watford, Victoria and Uxbridge, as well as the iconic Trafford Centre which analysis of crowd-sourced data has shown a 50% improvement in network performance.

O2 has also deployed mobile services using new WIG infrastructure across hotels and other prestigious real estate developments including: the world-renowned Savoy Hotel, The Ned and Pullman hotels, as well as King’s Cross, Canary Wharf and the Leadenhall Building (tallest in the City of London). Another high footfall venue that has benefitted from this collaboration between O2 and WIG is ExCel London, one of the largest UK conference centres.

The investment comes as O2 gets its network 5G-ready in preparation ahead of launch later this year.

Brendan O’Reilly, Chief Technology Officer, O2 said: “While we look ahead to 5G we also continue to focus on our existing network capability. We strive to deliver a great network experience to all our customers, including some of the UK’s busiest locations where network demand is at its peak. Our multi-million pound investment with our partners at WIG should provide O2 customers with even better connectivity in the places they love to visit.”

Scott Coates, CEO of Wireless Infrastructure Group said: “WIG’s neutral-host infrastructure now enables mobile services in offices, shopping malls, hotels, stadiums and other public venues that total over one billion visitors a year. Neutral host infrastructure can play a vital role enabling 5G and WIG looks forward to expanding our successful partnership with O2.”

O2 currently offers 4G in almost 19,000 cities, towns and villages across the UK and spends the equivalent of £2 million a day on strengthening its network and increasing its reach.

The operator was recently awarded uSwitch’s 2019 award for Best Network Coverage, as voted by the public.