• NTL's Wireless Solutions group secures O2 deal to provide 2G urban mobile phone infrastructure in Scotland & Northern Ireland
• 12 new ‘nodes' to boost coverage and capacity in Glasgow city centre
• Shared system for use by all mobile operators; ready for 3G 

NTL's Wireless Solutions group has signed a deal with O2 one of the UK's leading mobile operators, to provide CityCell, the company's innovative 2G and 3G-enabled mobile phone urban coverage and capacity solution across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Following comprehensive trials in Glasgow, O2 has signed a long-term contract for 2G service in the city via 12 CityCell nodes - discreet, low power antennas especially designed for urban use.  This deal will extend O2's 2G network capacity in the area for up to ten years and, in a crucial strategic move, enable the operator to deploy 3G from the same nodes as and when required.

The 12 street-level antennas are connected back to a central base-station 'hotel' on existing NTL optical fibre, which can be found in many UK towns and cities.  This means that effective coverage and increased capacity can be provided discreetly on structures typically no more intrusive than a lamppost.  Being a shared fully managed service, the solution is regarded as 'planning-friendly' as it provides expandable 2G and 3G coverage without the need for any additional infrastructure.  As a result, mobile operators can take 2G service and upgrade immediately to 3G when required.

"CityCell has many benefits," according to Nick Hyam, CityCell product manager in NTL's Wireless Solutions group.  "It has been developed to meet the increasing demands of mobile operators for urban coverage.  It is sympathetic to the local environment, with all operators' base station equipment in a single remote location.  It provides excellent coverage throughout busy streets and into buildings.  And, crucially, it is 3G-ready from day one.  This long-term contract is a very positive move for O2, for NTL and for the roll-out of the third-generation mobile network."

Alex Smyth, Area Manager Scotland and Northern Ireland at O2 added: "We constantly strive to improve our network coverage and capacity for our customers and CityCell has helped us to do just that.  Glasgow is a strategically important location for us, as it has one of the highest levels of urban mobile phone usage in the country.  Because CityCell is a fully managed solution, NTL takes full responsibility for infrastructure deployment and ongoing maintenance, enabling us to focus on providing the best possible customer experience.  NTL's solution represents a very attractive proposition."

-Ends-