Vodafone has revealed that it’s using phone boxes around the UK to boost the performance and reliability of 4G connectivity. The phone boxes have been equipped with miniature 4G units in Bournemouth, London, Reading, and Winchester – the nature of the hardware means capacity is boosted without further clutter being added to streets.
Commenting on the new hardware, Andrea Dona, Network & Development Director at Vodafone UK, said:
“Using these phone boxes to house mini 4G technology means we can keep up with demand and make the most out of existing structures on our streets. Adding more 4G coverage is important to us and our customers as we prepare to switch off old 3G technology next year.”
The company said that nine phone boxes in the areas previously mentioned were fitted with this miniature 4G technology. As more people turn to data-hogging services like TikTok and YouTube, Vodafone expects data demand to continue to grow. Innovative measures, such as turning phone boxes into 4G emitters, will help handle the data load.
While nine phone boxes don"t sound like a lot, Vodafone has previously rolled out similar technology on phone boxes in Brighton, Edgware, Edinburgh, Guildford, Harrow, Oxford, Polzeath beach, and Sennen Cove beach. Little by little, this new infrastructure will help bolster existing phone masts.