UScellular has doubled its network capacity in Rumford, Maine, through the use of a small cell solution fitted to streetlights.

The regional cellular provider confirmed this week that it has finished the deployment of the Ericsson Street Radios, a small cell platform created in collaboration with Ubicquia.

UScellular noted that the deployment has enabled it to enhance 4G and 5G connectivity in Rumford, a ski resort town with a population of around 6,000 people, "at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional small cell solutions."

According to the carrier, the street radio installations took less than three minutes.

"This project represents a significant milestone as we continuously strive to identify the most efficient ways to enhance wireless connectivity in the communities we serve," said Mike Irizarry, EVP and chief technology officer for UScellular.

"Doubling network capacity in such a short timeframe and in a cost-effective manner demonstrates the transformative potential of this technology. We commend the town of Rumford for their forward-thinking, and we're excited to work with Ubicquia to replicate this success in other municipalities."

Small cells are much more compact than typical telecom towers which can be anywhere between 50-300 ft (15-91m). They are often located on existing structures, such as lampposts or buildings, and tend to blend in more discreetly than tower structures.

Cell carriers have opted to deploy small cells in areas where it's difficult to deploy rooftop sites or build a tower. In the UK last month, telecoms infrastructure provider Freshwave signed an agreement to deploy small cells for UK telco Virgin Media O2 in Manchester.

UScellular is one of the biggest regional cell carriers outside the big three of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. It serves four million mobiles across 21 US states, in mostly rural areas.

In May, UScellular reached an agreement to sell a big portion of its business to T-Mobile for around $4.4 billion.

Once the transaction closes, UScellular will retain ownership of its other spectrum plus its towers, with T-Mobile entering into a long-term arrangement to lease space on at least 2,100 additional towers being retained.

As part of the transaction, T-Mobile will acquire around 30 percent of UScellular's wireless spectrum.

UScellular has also been heavily linked with Verizon over a sale of some of its assets.