O2 and Ontix deploy small cells to boost capacity in Bath

Visitors to Bath, along with residents and businesses in the city, will benefit from improved mobile connectivity and faster speeds as O2 small cells are deployed across key locations.

O2 and Ontix have partnered in collaboration with Bath & North East Somerset Council to deploy small cells in some of the busiest areas across Bath’s city centre and its picturesque shopping areas. The city is listed as the 11th most visited destination by inbound visitors, and popular sites such as the Roman Baths and Victoria Art Museum, as well as experiences including themed tours of Bridgerton filming locations, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The small cells are providing a crucial boost to 5G network capacity and delivering an enhanced user experience for O2 customers throughout the year.

Small cells are a discreet way to boost mobile connectivity in busy urban areas, and can be seamlessly integrated into existing street furniture such as lamp posts to blend with Bath’s streetscape. The first cells are now live and boosting the network, while further deployments are planned to continue into early 2026.

Richard Williams, Director of Acquisition at Ontix, said: “Having forged strong and collaborative relationships with the Digital Office at Bath & North East Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), we were able to deploy at pace, enabling us to rapidly improve mobile capacity in Bath. The city draws visitors year round from across the country and internationally. By enhancing mobile connectivity in the city’s bustling areas, Ontix and O2 are ensuring that residents and visitors alike can stay connected, whilst supporting the city’s ongoing wireless infrastructure needs.”

Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Digital connectivity is important for economic growth, innovation and ensuring our residents feel connected, safe and able to access services on a day-to-day basis. Any developments that improve digital connectivity for residents and visitors to the City Centre are to be welcomed and I am pleased to report that this initiative has secured a commitment to digital inclusion through funded apprenticeships.”

Steven Verigotta, Director of Mobile Delivery at Virgin Media O2, said: “We’re investing another £700m into our mobile network this year as part of our Mobile Transformation Plan, ensuring our customers receive an exceptional experience wherever they are, even during the busiest periods. Small cells play a vital role in this investment, delivering targeted network improvements where demand is highest. Bath attracts millions of visitors each year, and our customers can now enjoy enhanced connectivity when they’re exploring the city’s historic sites.”

These upgrades are part of O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan, which will see the operator invest approximately £700m this year to future-proof its mobile network. The plan is focused on expanding 4G and 5G coverage, a dedicated small cells rollout to boost capacity in dense urban areas, and innovative solutions to address persistent network pain points, including along railway lines, at airports, on motorways, and in stadiums and arenas. The investment in Bath has been delivered through the signing of an Open Access Agreement with Bath & North East Somerset Council.

-ENDS-

About Ontix

Ontix is a next-generation infrastructure-as-a-service provider, disrupting the business model for delivering lightning-fast connectivity wherever it is needed. Ontix makes it cheaper, easier and quicker for mobile operators and wireless network providers to add next-generation wireless networks through its turnkey solutions. Ontix is transforming the entire process for wireless network densification by investing in shared small cell infrastructure – including connectivity – and licensing this to operators.