Infrastructure-as-a-Service provider Ontix has partnered with carrier Virgin Media O2 to deploy small cells in Reading, UK.

Ontix and Virgin Media O2 have deployed small cells across some of the town's busiest locations, including at Reading Station, Reading College, Reading Museum, the Abbey Ruins, and the Oracle Shopping Centre.

The small cells will provide additional network capacity in these parts of Reading for Virgin Media O2's 4G mobile service.

Outdoor small cells are typically fixed to existing street furniture, such as lampposts.

They are seen as a simpler alternative to bulkier telecom infrastructure, which might look out of place or draw criticism from residents.

Virgin Media O2 and Ontix have previously deployed small cells in London, Birmingham, plus parts of the South East of England, and a recent deployment in the coastal town of Skegness.

"We’re proud to be the first neutral host company bringing small cells to Reading. Working closely with Virgin Media O2, we ensured the delivery of this project was speedy, cost-effective, and power-efficient," said Richard Williams, director of acquisition at Ontix.

Steven Verigotta, director of radio & mobile backhaul delivery at Virgin Media O2, added: “Small cells are an effective way of increasing local network bandwidth in busy areas and play an important role in allowing us to keep up with customer demand.”

“With upgrade programs underway right across our network, we’re working hard to ensure our customers consistently receive an exceptional network experience wherever they are and even at the busiest times.”

Earlier this year, Virgin Media announced plans to partner with telecoms infrastructure provider Freshwave to deploy small cells in Manchester.