In May 2025, EE Limited and Ontix deployed 80 5G small cells across Westminster to boost coverage, enhancing network performance in one of London’s busiest areas and supporting EE’s nationwide 5G expansion goals, according to RCR Wireless.
The small mobile masts are mounted on lampposts, BT telephone boxes, and other existing street furniture. The small cell 5G network is intended to be inconspicuous and colored to match the city environment, minimizing visual presence.
EE’s mobile radio access networks director James Hope described it as a push forward, considering “this small cell deployment with Ontix enhances 4G and 5G mobile connectivity for EE customers across the City of Westminster, one of London’s busiest areas serving not only as the center of UK government but also a focal point for tourism and business.”
This 5G small cell deployment is optimized for targeted, high-usage locations, balancing weight and safety for enduring lamppost deployment conditions. They are optimized not only to add strength to signal but also to reduce load from the balance of the network.
EE’s Nationwide 5G Small Cells Expansion
The deployment is part of EE’s larger network densification plan to deliver nationwide 5G by 2028. Greg McCall, BT Group’s chief networks officer, explained, “Our ambition is to enable a 5G connection anywhere in the UK by 2028.”
McCall added that the operator’s strong 4G foundation has allowed 5G small cell manufacturers to reach nearly 80% of the UK population, including rural areas and National Parks.
Small cells play a critical role in this expansion by offloading traffic from the macro network into dense areas.
“These small cells ensure that even in the busiest places, customers have access to the full performance of the network,” McCall noted.
To determine where to install the 5G network infrastructure including small cells units, EE uses advanced network analytics, identifying areas where increased capacity is most needed. The telco is also collaborating with Nordic vendors Nokia and Ericsson to supply and deploy these solutions.
Addressing the wider challenge of 5G small cells monetization, McCall acknowledged industry-wide concerns, “At BT Group, we’ve refreshed our network strategy so that we’re laser-focused on developing a fully programmable network which is on-demand, real-time, AI-first and offers best-in-class security capabilities.”
A key component of this evolution is EE’s 5G Standalone (5G SA) network, which now covers 15 major UK cities, and this network will enable next-generation services like network slicing and optimized cloud gaming, moving the promise of small cells for 5G mobile networks closer to everyday reality.
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