Mobile connectivity in the Bullring enhanced thanks to a recent collaboration with Freshwave

A partnership between Birmingham City Council and tech company Freshwave is poised to enhance mobile connectivity in high-traffic urban zones like the Bullring and New Street Station. This initiative holds the potential to deliver swifter downloads, enhanced streaming quality and more dependable phone conversations in densely populated zones.

Freshwave’s strategy involves the installation of outdoor small cells on lamp posts owned by the council, acting on behalf of mobile network operators. These ground-level cells will bolster network potency and coverage, catering to the heightened demand in Birmingham’s busiest locations.

These lamppost cells have already demonstrated their effectiveness in locations such as London, Glasgow and various prominent public areas near sports arenas and concert spaces.

Nick Wiggin, Head of Partnerships at Freshwave, said: “The open access approach to digital connectivity empowers local authorities to work with different mobile operators and speeds up the rate that community connectivity can be enhanced. I’m pleased that forward-thinking local authorities like Birmingham City Council are embracing this approach as it encourages inward investment to the area and can advance their digital ambitions.

“Having been the first company to sign an open access agreement with a council, all the way back in 2020, we’re huge advocates of this approach. All the support the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology provides through the various standardised contracts and agreements they’ve made available online to local authorities is also to be commended.”