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BT telephone poles doubling as 4G masts could plug reception not-spots

BT’s network arm Openreach has announced details of a trial which could see mobile not spots across the UK covered. 

In a nutshell, the new service turns BT telephone poles and street cabinets into mini mobile masts, providing a small level of improved coverage anywhere it’s needed. 

Whether it’s an urban not-spot or a remote location that’s a simply too far away, BT’s snappily-named MiiS – short for Mobile Infill Infrastructure Solution – ought to provide the right amount of local boost. 

Mobile phone towers could mast-uerade as BT telephone poles
Mobile phone towers could mast-uerade as BT telephone poles

MiiS will be launched by Openreach on October 23 and will be open to all UK mobile networks. O2, EE, Three and Vodafone will be free to install 3G and 4G equipment on BT’s poles. 

This could see the UK Government’s MIP (Mobile Infrastructure Project), a £150 million scheme aimed at plugging rural mobile black spots, come closer to fruition. 

As MiiS depends on cabinets and poles being in close proximity to deliver services to properties, rural customers could see their mobile reception improve as BT completes the various BDUK (Broadband Delivery for the UK) projects. 

BDUK aims to roll out superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017. As BT has won every BDUK contract going, it’s been tasked with rolling out a near-nationwide network. 

If the MiiS product proves to be popular with the mobile networks then it could be enough to convince BT to install cabinets and poles in remote locations it wouldn’t normally consider. The five per cent could end up getting superfast broadband indirectly, with the help of the mobile networks.  

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