29 December 2022

BT Wholesale, with support from EE and Three UK – is conducting a state-of-the-at 5G technology trial in Leeds with the deployment of a Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) that in future could be installed as individual street works or fitted in existing street-furniture to extend the signal.

A traditional mobile network consists of many standalone base stations, each covering a modest area, which is costly to build and tedious to manage. By comparison, C-RAN harnesses cloud computing, making it easier to build, manage and deploy large scale centralised networks.

BT’s C-RAN project has seen the first units installed at key locations in Leeds city centre, which will allow the operator to track how the infrastructure improves access in the area and serve as a proof of concept for future developments. The infrastructure is currently being used by the EE and Three UK networks for the trial.

“The introduction of this new technology highlights BT’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions that benefit residents, businesses, and visitors, whilst also supporting economic growth across Leeds and the wider UK,” said Alex Tempest, managing director, BT Wholesale. “This trial represents another step in transforming connectivity for the future and will help us better understand how 5G can best be delivered to meet the demands of the country.”

At present, this trial is still small. The first three units are live in the city centre already, with a further three to follow in the coming months.