Ruckus Wireless announced on July 31, 2012 that it will supply Telefonica UK with high-capacity small cell units as part of O2’s plan to deploy high-speed wireless services throughout London.
The Ruckus SmartCell 8800 provides free, fast, and reliable Wi-Fi that anyone can access with a mobile device. Its low-profile design hides the fact that it is the first carrier-grade, modular multi-radio system that integrates patented adaptive antenna array technology that supports a number of licensed and unlicensed radio technologies. SmartCell units can support high-speed dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, small cell 3G/4G radios, and 5GHz mobile backhaul.
SmartCell units are already deployed throughout iconic central London areas like Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square. They will give Telefonica UK the flexibility to quickly deploy and offer high-speed Wi-Fi and cellular services whenever and wherever they’re needed.
"For O2,” explained Derek McManus, chief operating officer for Telefonica UK, “it's all about us providing customers with fast and reliable connectivity where they need it. Our vision is for Wi-Fi to be simply another access layer to our mobile core.
"Customers don't really care about the underlying technology,” Mr. McManus pointed out. “They care about getting connected, fast and reliably. The introduction of small cells helps us to support these requirements and completely complements our mobile strategy,” he continued, “by letting us push capacity closer to users in locations where it makes the most sense."
Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless, noted that "there is now a mad race to the lamppost” for telecommunications companies, “and the first one there wins.” According to her, securing the physical locations that have the requisite power and backhaul to support small cells is the biggest obstacle to deployment.
“Once physical assets [have been] secured,” President Lo said, “it becomes important for operators to exploit them with as much technology as they can. This means multi-function, carrier-grade products that are simple deploy, unobtrusive and massively scalable. SmartCell is one of those products,” she said, “and O2 is one of those operators taking a lead in this race."
Telefonica UK performed extensive evaluations of wireless suppliers before selecting Ruckus and its SmartCell system. "It all really boiled down to who had the best Wi-Fi for carriers and the most forward-thinking strategy to integrate Wi-Fi within existing and future cellular infrastructure," said COO McManus.
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