BT has named Leeds as one of the first cities to trial C-RAN technology, which it said in the future could be installed as individual street works or fitted in existing street-furniture, such as lampposts or CCTV, to deliver a 5G signal. In a press release regarding the development, it was noted that the pilot scheme is being led by BT Wholesale, part of the British company’s Enterprise unit, and will enhance coverage and connectivity in Leeds, while serving as a proof of concept for future developments. Under the project, the first three units have been installed at ‘key locations’ in Leeds city centre, and BT has claimed the deployments will allow it to track how the infrastructure improves access in the area. According to BT, the infrastructure will be used by its mobile subsidiary EE, as well as rival cellco Three UK, during the trial.

Commenting, Alex Tempest, Managing Director at BT Wholesale, said: ‘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 … 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.’

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