Freshwave is rolling out thirteen new outdoor small cells for O2 in Guildford’s city centre, under an open access agreement with Surrey County Council.
Currently, nine of these compact mobile units are operational, significantly enhancing mobile connectivity in bustling public areas and benefiting residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
These outdoor small cells, roughly the size of a shoebox, are designed to improve coverage in high-footfall urban zones. Their small footprint allows for discreet installation on existing street furniture such as lamp posts, making them well-suited for city environments that value both performance and aesthetics.
Strategically positioned in key locations — including Guildford High Street, around Guildford Castle, and near Guildford Station — the small cells deliver improved mobile service for O2 users while preserving the historic charm of the city centre. By processing mobile traffic at street level, these small cells help ease the load on the broader network, enabling more users to call, text, and access data simultaneously, thus enhancing the overall mobile experience for those who live, work, and visit Guildford.
“We’re proud to work with O2 and Freshwave to enhance mobile connectivity in Guildford, supporting our Digital Strategy and helping modernize our high streets. Improved digital infrastructure supports stronger local economies, more resilient communities, and a Surrey that thrives both today and in the future,” said Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth.
“This deployment in Guildford exemplifies our commitment to delivering faster, more reliable connectivity in busy public spaces to meet record network demand. It’s a targeted approach that delivers real benefits for local communities,” said Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2.
“Our open access agreement with Surrey County Council, in partnership with O2, makes it easier to expand mobile coverage where it matters most. In Guildford, this approach results in faster rollout, less street clutter, and stronger connectivity for the community — a smart, efficient way to support local needs while maintaining the city’s character,” said Neil Barnes, Mobile Network Operator Account Director at Freshwave.
Open access agreements give local authorities control over street assets, allowing them to work with multiple mobile network operators and neutral hosts like Freshwave. With more than 800 outdoor small cells deployed across the UK, Freshwave continues to support community connectivity efforts for various mobile operators, helping to bring faster, more reliable mobile services to urban areas.
