Wedoany.com Report-May 30, Mavenir, Three UK, and Red Hat have achieved a significant milestone by doubling peak 5G speeds in Glasgow City Centre, marking the UK’s first deployment of Open RAN small cells in a dense urban setting. The trial, conducted in May 2025, demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating Open RAN-compliant small cells with existing macro infrastructure to enhance mobile network performance.

The project utilizes Mavenir’s Open vRAN solution and Open RAN small cell technology, installed on street furniture such as lamp posts to boost coverage and alleviate congestion in busy areas. The trial resulted in 4G and 5G speeds doubling during peak times, with Three UK’s 5G reaching up to 520 Mbps. Brandon Larson, Mavenir’s SVP of Cloud and AI, stated: “This network densification project proves that the Open RAN layer built by Mavenir can efficiently meet the needs of Three UK and its customers in one of the busiest cities in the UK.”

Three UK’s Chief Network Officer, Iain Milligan, highlighted the project’s success, saying: “Mavenir and Red Hat have been exceptional partners on this groundbreaking project – the UK’s first Open RAN trial to tackle the real-world complexity of a dense urban environment.” The initiative, involving 18 live sites, will expand to 34 under the SCONDA initiative, supported by the UK government to strengthen urban digital infrastructure. Red Hat OpenShift provided the hybrid cloud platform, enabling automation, enhanced security, and faster deployment for Mavenir’s OpenBeam radios.

Honoré LaBourdette, VP of Global Telco Ecosystem at Red Hat, noted: “Red Hat and Mavenir share a commitment to delivering optimized Open RAN solutions.” The collaboration enhances customer experiences and streamlines operations in Glasgow, supporting local connectivity needs without impacting trade or consumption patterns. The trial’s success in navigating integration challenges with legacy systems underscores the potential for scalable, high-performance mobile networks in urban environments.

The project positions Glasgow as a leader in advanced telecommunications, fostering economic and social benefits through improved digital infrastructure. The expansion of Open RAN small cells promises to further enhance network capacity and reliability for residents and businesses in the city.