Efficient design supports U.K.’s 5G transformation
Efficient design supports U.K.’s 5G transformation
December 2, 2024
An early adopter of 5G, the United Kingdom (U.K.) is transforming its telecommunications infrastructure to roll out high speed, fifth-generation mobile phone networks. The move requires efficient revamp of poles and cabinets for use by the country’s several mobile network operators.
- ProjectStreetworks telecommunications poles for U.K. mobile network operator.
- LocationUnited Kingdom
- ChallengeEfficiently readying mobile networks in the U.K. for 5G connectivity requires reliable, adaptable telecommunications poles.
- SolutionValmont has become a leading provider of poles and cabinets direct to the country’s main telecommunications providers.
5G could be worth as much as £173 billion (~$190 billion) to the UK economy over the next decade in improvements to productivity and the development of connected cities, driverless vehicles and other technologies.” — Assembly Research As the U.K. moves to cover all its populated areas with the high-speed connectivity offered by standalone 5G by 2030, the equipment in the field needs to change. Over the past five years, the country’s mobile network operators (MNOs) have worked to gradually transform their infrastructure. Valmont, meanwhile, has evolved from supplying subcontractors to being the country’s primary provider of 5G poles. “One of the reasons we’re gaining ground so quickly is because we reduce significantly the amount of time involved in deployment,” said Valmont’s EMEA Telecom Director David Tweed. “Installing a product that’s not pre-rigged takes two weeks. We’ve reduced that to around days.”/n/n Designed with conserving resources and improving life in mind, the Streetworks poles also offer a sustainable screw pile foundation, which avoids the environmental impact of concrete and cuts potential waste at installation. Meanwhile, in the future, the MNO can easily return and change the pole configuration instead of having to rip and replace. “We see this as being a very positive foundation for our EMEA telecom business,” Tweed says. “We got it right in the U.K. and we have a lot of opportunities to develop the market more as we’re all on a 5G journey throughout EMEA.” “We see this as being a very positive foundation for our EMEA telecom business,” Tweed says. “We got it right in the U.K. and we have a lot of opportunities to develop the market more as we’re all on a 5G journey throughout EMEA.” Valmont’s value hit home for Tweed during the pandemic. When a installation team helped to connect a hospital to 5G during COVID quarantines, an employee thanked them saying she would now be able to speak to people she hadn’t been able to reach in weeks. “It really does bring home that what we do is really important,” Tweed said. “We’re building the infrastructure to improve lives and drive technologies forward.”
