Cellnet ups reception of phones in London

Higher quality of service promised as Cellnet matches Vodafone'smicrocell strategy.

Cellnet will rise to rival Vodafone's challenge this week when it installs a network of 'microcells' across London to improve reception in built-up areas.

Microcells act like cellular transmitters to improve reception for mobile phone users in busy areas.

A spokesman at Cellnet said: "We have begun a national rollout of new sites to improve cellular reception in places where it is poor."

Vodafone installed seven microcells inside Terminal 4 at Heathrow a fortnight ago. Network News can exclusively reveal that Cellnet will this week install microcells in Marylebone High Street, Euston Station, and Kensington High Street. All three are expected to go live this week.

"We needed more capacity because there was a customer demand for it," added the Cellnet spokesman. "We'll be installing a microcell in the Millennium dome in Greenwich as well, and are looking at Heathrow, New World Cargo Centre near Terminal 4. People want better reception and coverage."

Both Orange and Vodafone are also looking at adding microcells on the London Underground in the next few years, however coverage will still not be available in the tunnels between Tube stations.

A spokeswoman at Orange said: "It is too expensive to install microcells in the underground tunnels and therefore they will only be installed in the stations."

Cellnet has 23 regional switch sites across the UK, which are connected using fibre-optic cabling to the main network management centre in Slough.

A mobile phone user transmits a radio signal to a microcell, which acts like a cellular transmitter. The microcell then notifies the local regional switching office over land cabling.