Boldyn Networks Bulletin, November 2023

Keeping you informed of our infrastructure activities

Boldyn Networks Bulletin, 1* November 2023

Welcome to our new bulletin that provides an update on some of our UK and Ireland activities. So we can keep you up to date, please subscribe here for future bulletins and please share with colleagues who would find this useful. In this edition:

Jamie Hayes, our MD for streetscape and fibre, provides the latest on our above ground build across London, and shares his thoughts on the UK’s connectivity landscape,
Andrew Conway, our director of solutions and innovation, shares some of our Open Ran initiatives,
Gavin O’Meara, our commercial director for venues updates on some of our neutral host work and
Mark Francisco, our head of engineering, shares celebrating this year’s national engineering day with Transport for London.

Jamie Hayes: Building an infrastructure to densify London

Since becoming Transport for London’s concessionaire and gaining access to their assets across London, Boldyn Networks has been hard at work utilising these to build out a fibre and small cell infrastructure across London. We have an ambition to build 60km of fibre year on year for the next 5 years to deploy c.3000 small cells across London to bridge the digital divide and ensure an interconnected future for all. This includes building critical infrastructure in London Borough high streets, outside underground stations and major overground stations throughout London and support areas across the capital that has high foot fall regularly throughout the year or at peak/seasonal times so coverage is reliable and uninterrupted.

The network is being built using a mix of TfL traffic management duct (62%) typically at junctions on red routes and new build (38%) to connect sections. It has a minimum of 144 dark fibres on all routes with 3x micro ducts available for expansion. When complete, there will be c. 3,900 streetscape assets on/near the network (within 10 meters of the fibre route). This will allow rapid, “on demand” connection of small cells for MNOs. As of August 2023, 52% of the route is in build; 27% in LLD (low level design); 21% in HLD (high level design).

Working in partnership with TfL Asset Operations, surface team and engineering; Boldyn Networks has made significant progress in terms of fibre/infrastructure installation which we can summarise as follows:

Performed test rod and rope inspections of 52,000 meters of traffic management duct
Laid over 4500 Meters of 110mm diameter duct extending the TfL estate
Joined over 400 TfL access chambers to existing duct and overlay
Pulled in over 10,000 meters of subduct
3,000 meters of fibre blown
Performed 40 Core drills into TfL access chambers
Built 114 new chambers across to date, enriching the access and integrity of the TfL estate
Cleared over 20 blockages / de-silts on TfL traffic management duct
173 small cells are already in build with many more in planning.
For more information on our small cells and fibre work please contact me @ jamie.hayes@Boldyn.com.

JAMIE CHANGE ME

Jamie Hayes: My view on the UK's connectivity landscape

At this year’s Connected Britain, I shared my perspective as a neutral host provider on the UK’s communication landscape. I discuss some of the aspects that determine where we invest in new infrastructure and the importance of local authority stewardship in bridging the digital divide. To engage further on any of the topics I raise, please feel free to contact me @ Jamie.hayes@boldyn.com

WATCH NOW

Andrew Conway: Supporting development of the Open RAN ecosystem

Whilst the concept of Open RAN can appear as if you’re throwing network lego bricks across the carpet to then put them together in the right way to deliver a radio network, the promise of an Open network is certainly one to pursue. With that in mind we were keen to support the UK government’s recent Open Networks Ecosystem (ONE) competition. We will be supporting two projects – the Small Cells ORAN in Dense Areas project (SCONDA) – in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Boldyn Networks will be tackling mobile reception challenges in the high-demand areas of the city and the Sunderland Open Network Ecosystem (SONET) project – building on the exciting partnership with Sunderland City Council, Boldyn Networks will be supporting new applications for fans of live or Esports in major locations around the city, including at Sunderland AFC’s football ground, and the National Esports Performance Campus.

SCONDA seeks to address the unique technical and commercial challenges of High-Density Demand areas and will be the first in the world to integrate Open RAN and Traditional RAN in a high density, high demand environment handling live traffic. The project will build, integrate, optimise and deliver an Open RAN network in Glasgow City Centre, integrated to the existing Three UK Core Network, operating alongside their traditional RAN. A small cell densification layer will be created in a high demand urban hotspots to offload the macro traffic and provide a better customer experience. The project will further enable automation of the network performance within the challenging radio environment of Glasgow City Centre. The project aims to demonstrate how Open RAN can be deployed, integrated and managed within the wider Three network in Glasgow and evaluate how open RAN compares with the quality and capacity of a traditional RAN network.

SONET is poised to transform the way we engage with live sports and esports. the project will showcase a highly efficient, state-of-the art High-Density Demand (HDD) Open RAN solution at the Stadium of Light and the new British Esports Arena, part of the National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland. Utilising cloud-native systems, Radio Intelligent Controls and automation, SONET Project will create a Multi-Network Operator Neutral Host distributed antenna system that adheres to Joint Operator technical specifications (JOTS). This will deliver a solution capable of providing high-capacity, multi-operator connectivity. In addition, SONET will demonstrate a platform that will reduce the total cost of ownership burden for Mobile Network Operators by connecting a HDD stadium to an MNO Core Network without the need for a large deployment of base stations, thereby reducing power consumption and space and reducing time-to-market. In addition, delivery of this high-capacity connectivity platform will provide customers the capability for immersive interactions that will enhance live-streamed football and global esports events. For further information on our Open RAN work please contact me @ Andrew.Conway@Boldyn.com.

Gavin O’Meara: Neutral host developments for Venues

Boldyn Networks are a significant investor in communications in the UK, delivering next generation connectivity for a range of industries including sports & entertainment and commercial real estate.

Recently we launched the UK’s first 5G neutral host at First Direct arena in Leeds. First Direct arena Leeds We discuss how by partnering with ASM and the venue operator we delivered a 5G multi-carrier network. A network which will transform the guest experience and underpin operations and logistics in the venue.

We’re continuing to partner with a range of venues across the UK, entering into agreements with London Olympia and Stadium of Light. By partnering closely with operators we can deliver solutions that address the unique problems and opportunities unique to that venue alone.

This solution based approach delivering results is evident across our portfolio of 250 marque locations across the world including where we redefined the connected 5G experience at Crypto. com arena and L.A. Live. Crypto arena case study,

If you’re interested in discovering how Boldyn can partner with you and your organisation, please contact @ Gavin.Omeara@boldyn.com

WATCH NOW

Mark Francisco: Celebrating National Engineering Day.

On the 1st November, this year’s national engineering awareness day, I had the honour of joining the National Engineering Day Expo at Transport for London Palestra House, celebrating TFL's Engineering community. It was an incredible and eye opening experience, where various engineers, across many disciplines, showcased their remarkable work. I had the honour of representing Boldyn Networks and our project to bring high speed 4G and 5G connectivity to the city’s Tube network. Our discussions ignited new insights around how our work is reshaping the commuters' experience and bringing forth a fully connected London. We continue to explore ways to accelerate our work on the tube. To-date 61 stations and tunnels have been equipped and service has gone live at over 10 stations and associated tunnels on the Northern and Central Lines. This complements the 4G service on the Jubilee Line that’s live between Westminster and Canning Town.