Next-Generation Wireless Infrastructure-as-a-Service Provider Ontix Wins Contract to Deliver 5G-Ready Wireless Connectivity Across Westminster
10-Year Strategic Partnership To Drive Major Central London Deployment of Small Cells, Including Launch of Next-Generation Neutral Host ‘Metrohaul’ Network
London, UK, September 21 2018 – Ontix Limited, the next-generation wireless infrastructure-as-a-service provider, today announces that it has signed a major new strategic partnership with Westminster City Council that will deliver world-class wireless service to residents, businesses and visitors across the celebrated London borough. Ontix will begin by deploying a pilot wireless small cell network – available for trial by all operators – in Trafalgar Square in November.
Following a competitive tender, Westminster City Council has awarded a 10-year concession contract giving Ontix exclusive rights to deploy small cells on the Council’s street furniture and lampposts, providing next-generation wireless infrastructure to mobile operators and other wireless network operators. As part of the long-term partnership, Ontix will also build a high capacity, neutral-host ‘Metrohaul’ network to deliver 5G-ready connectivity for all operators.
The vast borough of Westminster encompasses many of London’s most popular tourist attractions, from Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey through to the West End, Covent Garden, Paddington and beyond. With an exponential increase in the demand for mobile data, pressure on the borough’s legacy network infrastructure has been growing, with operators struggling to access enough suitable rooftop sites to deploy the macro cells they have been using to date. The Council has therefore been actively seeking to harness its borough-managed assets to improve mobile coverage and capacity and boost the UK’s ambitions to become a world leader in 5G.
Selecting Ontix from an exhaustive comprehensive review of potential partners, Westminster City Council was impressed by the Ontix team’s innovative operating model, proven capability, and target pricing to operators. Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Economic Development Education and Community at Westminster City Council said: “Economically, socially and culturally, London is probably the best-connected city in the world. So stands to reason that the 1.6 million people who live, do business and sightsee across Westminster each day should benefit from the world’s fastest and most reliable wireless service. This new micro-technology will finally relegate ‘not-spots’ to the digital dustbin of history and Westminster will now embody the UK’s ambition to become a world leader in 5G.”
The highly experienced Ontix team has been instrumental in the success of small cell deployments in the UK and is now bringing its track record of excellence to this landmark Westminster small cell concession.
Antony Tomlinson, Chief Executive at Ontix, added: “We are very excited to be working together with Westminster City Council on this very significant project for the capital. This is a huge opportunity, and one of the very first of its kind on this scale. 5G promises to deliver a huge impact, socially and economically, but we need to make it a reality. Partnerships like this are where it happens.”