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Small cell units on a lamp post beside the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) in Westminster, against a bright cloudy sky.
Solutions

The right infrastructure starts with what you need to achieve.

Calls that drop indoors, networks that struggle at busy times, or coverage threatened by a site loss: similar frustrations can need different responses. Ontix brings assessment, technology and delivery experience together to help establish the right approach for your location and the people it serves.

Discuss your requirement
Find your situation
Understanding the requirement

Not every signal problem is the same.

Understanding where service falls short is the first step towards improving it. These three questions help frame the requirement; assessment establishes the cause and the options worth considering.

  • Coverage

    Does the mobile signal reach the areas people need to use? Building materials, layout and the surrounding network can all affect availability.

  • Capacity

    Can the mobile network support demand when people use it? A visible signal does not necessarily mean enough capacity at busy times.

  • Guest internet access

    Do visitors need an internet connection through Wi-Fi? This is a separate service requirement that can complement mobile connectivity.

The Ontix range

Different solutions. Coordinated around your requirement.

Outdoor and indoor systems address different coverage and capacity needs. Public Wi-Fi provides a separate internet access service, while our platform and delivery capabilities support the agreed deployment. We assess which elements are relevant and how they need to work together.

On the street

Small cells

Targeted outdoor mobile coverage and capacity, close to where demand builds.

Compact base stations on suitable street furniture complement the wider mobile network. Ontix assesses the radio requirement alongside asset access, power, transmission and operator arrangements, then coordinates the agreed deployment.

About small cells

Temporary Small Cells

Interim mobile coverage for priority areas affected by site loss.

A planned cluster of small cells may help support selected areas while a longer-term network response progresses. We assess the service objectives, available assets, delivery timescale and transition requirements before establishing whether the approach is suitable.

About Temporary Small Cells
Inside buildings

Intra

Indoor mobile coverage for business premises, planned around the people using them.

Intra is Ontix’s managed indoor mobile solution for suitable premises. We assess the layout, demand, local connectivity requirements and participating mobile networks to establish suitability and the proposed service.

About Intra

Distributed antenna systems (DAS)

Mobile coverage distributed across buildings, venues and campuses.

A DAS distributes mobile signals from agreed sources to antennas across a site. The design considers building layout, capacity requirements and operator participation, alongside the infrastructure and delivery responsibilities.

About DAS
In public spaces

Public Wi-Fi

Internet access for visitors in streets, venues and public spaces.

We plan the service around its users, demand and operating requirements. Public Wi-Fi can complement mobile connectivity by providing a separate way for visitors to get online.

About public Wi-Fi
Platform and delivery

Ontix Nexus

The neutral host gateway linking shared infrastructure to each participating operator.

The Neutral Host Service Gateway connects shared radio infrastructure with participating mobile operator core networks. It enables an agreed network model; it is considered alongside the radio design and operator arrangements.

About Ontix Nexus

Infrastructure and build services

Design, build and ongoing management of the infrastructure your connectivity depends on.

We coordinate site access, physical works, power and transmission within the agreed scope. Clear responsibilities connect the design and installation stages with handover and ongoing infrastructure management.

About infrastructure and build
Shared infrastructure

One installation, more than one network, where operators agree.

A neutral host approach allows participating mobile networks to use shared infrastructure. Where technically and commercially appropriate, this can reduce duplication of equipment and supporting works. The design establishes what is shared, how operators connect and who is responsible for each part.

What it means:

  • For operators: a route to additional coverage or capacity using shared infrastructure, subject to technical and commercial agreement.
  • For councils and property owners: an opportunity to coordinate infrastructure within the available space and reduce separate installations where feasible.
  • For the people using it: improved mobile service on the networks participating at that location.

Operator participation and service availability are specific to each deployment. We establish these requirements with the relevant parties as part of assessment and design.

About Ontix Nexus
Illustrative example: shared radio infrastructure connected through Ontix Nexus to participating operator networks. The configuration depends on the deployment.
Which option fits

Find your situation.

Start with the situation you recognise. These are options to explore, not a final specification; we assess the location, users and delivery requirements before recommending an approach.

Solutions to consider

Outdoor small cells can add targeted capacity. The radio conditions, available assets and precise location determine whether they are suitable.

Small cells

Targeted outdoor mobile coverage and capacity, close to where demand builds.

About small cells

Often relevant to Mobile network operators; local authorities

Prefer to explore the needs of your organisation?
How we work

From understanding the requirement to supporting live infrastructure.

  1. Define

    Establish what needs to work, where and for whom, including the mobile networks or guest access service required.

  2. Assess

    Review radio conditions, available assets, connectivity, power, access and permissions.

  3. Design

    Develop the approach, agree responsibilities and establish the applicable operator and customer acceptance requirements.

  4. Deliver

    Coordinate installation, commissioning and handover against the agreed scope and acceptance criteria.

  5. Manage

    Provide ongoing monitoring and maintenance within the agreed service scope, with clear responsibilities for faults and changes.

The scope and sequence depend on the solution. Delivery times are shaped by site conditions, operator requirements and the dependencies identified during assessment.

In practice

Small cells at Trafalgar Square.

Trafalgar Square shows how a capacity requirement shaped the infrastructure response. Ontix used access to street furniture through Westminster City Council to deploy small cells for Vodafone, with five sites later upgraded to add 5G.

Small cells on a street pole, with pedestrians crossing in front of the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square.
4G small cells deployed and connected
7
December 2022
weeks to make each phase operational
4
December 2022 and December 2025
sites upgraded to add 5G on a C‑RAN architecture
5
December 2025

Timings relate to this project. Every location needs its own assessment.

Read the case study

From the Ontix Exchange

Talk to Ontix

Not sure which option fits? Let’s work it out together.

You don’t need a technical specification to start. It helps to know:

Where
The existing or planned buildings, rooms and outdoor areas the service needs to support.
Who
The people and operations relying on it, including the mobile networks they need.
When
When demand peaks, when problems occur and any target dates for service.
What could affect delivery
Access arrangements, lease conditions, planned works and other known constraints.

We’ll help establish what needs assessing and which approaches are worth exploring.

Discuss your requirement

Or call +44 (0)330 1229000