Arqiva and O2 to improve mobile connectivity in London Boroughs

Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure company, and O2 have today announced plans to deploy up to 300 small cells across London, one of the biggest outdoor small cell deployments by O2 in the UK to date. The small cells, once installed, will provide enhanced mobile data capacity and coverage to those living and working in some of the capital's busiest boroughs.

The long term agreement will make use of some of Arqiva's comprehensive concession contracts with 14 of the London Boroughs, including the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth, Camden and Lambeth, to name a few. Initial sites will be live by the summer 2018, with deployment continuing up to 2020.

The 300 small cells will be installed on street assets, such as lampposts, to deliver targeted coverage and increased capacity in areas where mobile data demand is particularly high, for example outside transport hubs and major shopping areas.

In addition to its immediate customer benefits, the agreement will lay the foundations for a rapid deployment of 5G connectivity when it becomes available. O2 research recently revealed that 5G will update the operating system' of the UK's cities, making them smarter and creating tangible benefits for citizens and local councils as well as generating £6 billion productivity savings for the UK economy.*

David Crawford, Managing Director, Telecoms & M2M at Arqiva, said:

New types of mobile infrastructure are now required to meet the needs of the mobile network operators and their customers. As demand for data continues to increase, the requirement for network densification will grow and use of street furniture and small cells will play a critical role in delivering the mobile networks of the future.

The agreement between O2 and Arqiva represents the start of this journey and we look forward to working together to deliver an enhanced experience for O2 customers.

Brendan O'Reilly, Chief Technical Officer, O2, said:

National 5G infrastructure when it arrives in a few years' time will not only have a crucial impact on our economy, it will change the way we live our lives. Our partnership with Arqiva reflects this belief and demonstrates our commitment to exploring opportunities to provide the increased capacity and denser coverage our customers deserve in the areas they need it most. Only by working together, with industry partners, regulators, and government policy makers, will we be able to continue delivering the best for our customers and to help the UK maintain the digital leadership we have all worked so hard to establish .

About Arqiva:

Arqiva is a leading UK communications infrastructure and media services provider dedicated to connecting people wherever they are through the delivery of TV, radio, mobile and the Internet of Things (IoT). We are an independent provider of telecom towers, with circa 8,000 active sites across Great Britain, and are also the only supplier of national terrestrial television and radio broadcasting services in the UK. Our advanced networks support the exponential growth of connected devices and the ever-increasing demand for data from smartphones to tablets, connected TVs, smart meters, cars and medical devices.

For more information, news and insights from Arqiva, please visit the website at: www.arqiva.com

About O2

O2 is the commercial brand of Telef nica UK Limited and is the mobile network operator with the highest customer satisfaction in the UK according to Ofcom and The Institute of Customer Service. With over 25 million customers, O2 runs 2G, 3G and 4G networks across the UK, as well as operating its nationwide O2 Wifi service. O2 has over 450 retail stores and sponsors The O2, O2 Academy venues and England Rugby. Read more about O2 at o2.co.uk/news

Telef nica UK Limited is registered in England and Wales. Registration number: 1743099.

Its registered office is at: 260 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4DX, United Kingdom.

* About the research

The research has been prepared on behalf of O2 by Juniper Research. All findings in O2's The value of 5G for cities and communities' report are the responsibility of Juniper Research.

About Juniper Research

Juniper Research is acknowledged as a leading analyst house in the digital technologies and mobile sector. Juniper specialises in identifying and appraising new high growth market sectors within the digital ecosystem. Market sizing and forecasting are the cornerstones of our offering, together with competitive analysis, strategic assessment and business modelling. Its global clients range from mobile operators through to content providers, vendors and financial institutions. For any enquiries, please email Jon.King@juniperresearch.com

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