Chester City Centre Gets a Mobile Connection Boost

New 4G and 5G infrastructure has been installed in Chester city centre making it easier to find a mobile signal and broadband connection.

Improving connectivity in the city is a key priority for Chester BID and this new 4G and 5G infrastructure will help both businesses and visitors alike.

Cheshire West and Chester Council secured an Open Access Agreement with Ontix, one of the UK’s leading Neutral Host operators, to install a network of small cells across the city centre. The network connects cutting edge small cell infrastructure to existing lampposts ensuring minimal visual intrusion while significantly improving mobile coverage.

The locations were chosen to provide maximum capacity whilst respecting the city's rich architectural heritage but with minimum disruption. The first phase of the network will particularly benefit areas previously having poor coverage across the city centre including Northgate Street, Foregate Street and Eastgate Street with more phased coverage planned for later in the year.

Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation said: "Residents, businesses and visitors to Chester have previously spent time searching for a signal, reconnecting dropped calls, and waiting for mobile data. Chester’s One City Plan Experiencing Group has championed the need for change, and we have worked with Ontix to deliver the new infrastructure and enable better mobile connectivity. The first provider offering increased 4G and 5G mobile coverage in the City Centre is Virgin Media O2. I am grateful to them for investing heavily to bring the small cell technology into the city centre, and hope that other network operators will follow their lead in the very near future."

The One City Plan Making and Experiencing working groups support the Council in delivering Smart Chester using the power of information and communications technology to enhance city function

This initiative marks a significant step towards becoming a SMART, digitally connected city and serves as the foundation for future digital advancements.

By improving connectivity, we aim to enhance the experience of living, working, learning, and playing in Chester. This vision has been realised through collaboration with the private sector, Chester BID, and the Council. Together, we are committed to creating a more digitally connected Chester.

The proactive approach that Cheshire West and Chester Council has taken to address mobile connectivity challenges is incredibly refreshing.

Chester presents a unique environment where technological innovation must seamlessly integrate with the world-famous heritage of the city. This small cell technology allows us to lay the foundation for future mobile networks while maintaining the city's architectural integrity.

Dr Rob Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at Virgin Media O2 said: "Our Mobile Transformation Plan will see us invest £700m into our mobile network this year to ensure our customers consistently receive an exceptional network experience wherever they are and even at the busiest times. Small cells are an important part of this investment, as they are an effective way of increasing local network bandwidth and play an important role in allowing us to keep up with rising customer demand. These new sites in Chester will improve the reliability of our network in the area and provide a better experience for customers."

Small cell technology is quicker to deploy and unobtrusive compared to alternatives. It is a good fit for cities and can be used in towns and villages too, giving the opportunity to tackle mobile connectivity issues across Cheshire West.

A survey was carried out by The Council working in conjunction with FarrPoint to establish Chester’s digital connectivity issues. This work provided the information needed to develop an action programme to enhance the city’s mobile infrastructure.