The new kit in Tonbridge
O2 has activated five outdoor small cells in Tonbridge town centre. The units, installed by Freshwave on behalf of O2 with Kent County Council, sit on existing street assets such as lampposts and supply extra 4G and 5G capacity where demand is highest. The discreet kit strengthens coverage for residents, businesses and visitors without the need for large new masts.
What the MP said
Tom Tugendhat MP, Member of Parliament for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and North Downs Villages, said: “We are all too familiar with how frustrating not being able to access phone signal and internet can be, and the impact an inefficient and unreliable signal has in Tonbridge town centre. People expect their mobile connection to work wherever they are.
“I’m delighted this is changing, starting with the new small cells now live in Tonbridge. This investment will help improve connectivity across our town centre and demonstrates what can be achieved when local partners work together to deliver the infrastructure communities need.”
O2 and partners on the rollout
Professor Rob Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said: “Mobile data usage continues to grow year after year, making it increasingly important that we invest in infrastructure which can keep pace with customer demand.
“These new small cells will provide additional capacity in some of Tonbridge’s busiest locations, helping residents, businesses and visitors stay connected. We are grateful for the support of Tom Tugendhat MP and our local partners in helping make this deployment possible.”
David Wimble of Kent County Council and Neil Barnes of Freshwave also welcomed the project, noting it uses existing street furniture to deliver better connectivity without major new builds. The work forms part of Virgin Media O2’s wider Mobile Transformation Plan.
How this affects O2 customers
The extra capacity should reduce congestion during peak times and improve reliability for everyday use. Check your coverage and current plan on our mobile phones pages to see whether an upgrade or switch could suit you better.
