UK operator EE has built 200 new small cells across its network to boost 4G coverage in Leeds, London and Manchester, with hundreds more promised over the next 18 months.

Small cell deployments are designed to boost capacity in high density areas where it’s impractical to build larger macro sites. EE’s new 4G small cells apparently use licenced 1800MHz and 2600Mhz spectrum bands as well as unlicensed 5GHz, and have been bolted onto a variety of existing street assets, including CCTV columns, lamp posts and BT telephone boxes.

Hundreds more small cell deployments are apparently going to spring up in the next 18 months, including at some ‘summer hotspots.’ EE also intends to use small cells to extend its 5G network in some upcoming trials, and points out that Nokia’s AirScale tech which the units are based on can be upgraded to 5G.

“EE has been the number one network for eight years running and we are committed to maintaining the best possible customer experience,” said David Salam, Director of Mobile Networks at EE. “Investment and innovation are the key to consistent network improvement and this partnership with Nokia, to deploy small cells to support our 4G – and in the future, 5G – network, is a new solution to maintain our network leadership in the UK.”

Mark Atkinson, SVP Radio Access Networks PLM at Nokia added: “We are proud to partner with EE to realise the deployment of high-capacity small cells across the UK. Nokia’s extensive portfolio of outdoor and indoor small cells provides premium 4G and 5G performance in dense urban and in-building environments. EE customers will enjoy the very best 4G and 5G network connectivity regardless of location and we look forward to supporting this journey.”

If we were to be critical we could say 200 small cells isn’t a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but its all progress in the right direction and EE does mention more are in the pipeline.