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Small Cell Forum launches Local Authority Connectivity Group
The group’s focus is on developing blueprints and toolkits to aid deployment of small cell networks for outdoor public places where capacity is inadequate.
At a glance
Who: Small Cell Forum (SCF); Oxfordshire County Council; Glasgow City Council; Cambridgeshire Country Council; Wireless Infrastructure Group; BT Group.
What: SCF has announced the launch of the Local Authority Connectivity Group, which aims to work collaboratively to speed roll-out of better connectivity in cities and towns, particularly using small cells.
Why: To aid development and deployment of small cell networks for outdoor public places where capacity provided by the macro network is inadequate.
Where: The group is currently working with UK local authorities but, in future, the scope will extend to other countries.
The Small Cell Forum has announced the launch of its Local Authority Connectivity Group, which aims to capture public sector requirements and work collaboratively to speed roll-out of better connectivity in cities and towns, particularly using small cells.
The Small Cell Forum is a global trade organisation committed to driving sustainable digital transformation through agile, scalable, shared communications infrastructure.
Local authority toolkits
The work is being led by a steering group, made up of representatives from Oxfordshire County Council, Glasgow City Council and Cambridgeshire Country Council, along with SCF member representative companies Wireless Infrastructure Group, BT Group, and representatives from the SCF leadership team.
The group’s focus is on developing blueprints, templates and toolkits for local authorities and industry that aid the development and deployment of small cell networks for outdoor public places where capacity provided by the macro network is inadequate.
“We all have a common goal: to improve connectivity for people living in our cities, towns and villages because it is a vital requirement for everyday life”
“Our connectivity team is delighted to be a part of this new initiative. Having had experience and success with small cell deployments in Oxfordshire we are keen to share our experience and knowledge with the industry and with other councils,” said Craig Bower, digital infrastructure programme director, Oxfordshire County Council.
“We all have a common goal: to improve connectivity for people living in our cities, towns and villages because it is a vital requirement for everyday life. How this is fully achieved is still being discussed, but small cells are certainly part of the answer in many cases. It can sometimes be challenging to get connectivity projects off the ground due to planning considerations and lack of funding. But, as part of our work with SCF we can share our requirements, collectively look for solutions, and support other councils going through the same process.”
The group is currently working with UK local authorities but, in future, the scope will extend to other countries. The hope is that the resources developed by the UK group will be easily adaptable for use by authorities and municipalities planning small cell networks for public spaces anywhere in the world.
“The Local Authority Connectivity Group initiative gives us valuable two-way communication with the end-users of connectivity solutions,” said Simon Fletcher, chief strategy officer of Small Cell Forum.
“This helps us fully understand their needs and pain-points so we can factor in the impact of everything from the size and aesthetics of small cell hardware, to the operator and neutral host models for deploying networks. We are learning from each other and it’s allowing us to develop new ways to support the roll-out of small cells in public spaces.”
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How can local authorities use blueprints to accelerate small cell deployment?What funding models effectively support small cell roll-out in public spaces?How should small cell hardware aesthetics be balanced with technical requirements?Which neutral-host approaches best enable multi-operator small cell access?How can toolkits be adapted internationally for diverse municipal regulations?
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