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Building the Blueprint

Written by Dan Ashby on . Posted in Innovation, News, Small Cells, Thought Leadership.

We’re living through a transformation in mobile infrastructure. But it’s not one that’s making headlines… not yet anyway. The real shift is happening at street level, in the way we think about network architecture, and in the partnerships we build to make it real.

We all know the pressures. As an industry, we’re pushing hard to deliver high-quality, reliable coverage to more communities and businesses, while grappling with tougher economics and limited room for traditional expansion. Tall masts in remote fields got us here, but they won’t get us to where the UK needs to be.

That’s why it’s time to talk seriously about small cells. Not just as a bolt-on to existing strategy, but as a foundational layer for capacity, resilience, and reach, especially in dense urban areas where macro coverage alone can’t keep up with demand.

And let’s be honest: demand is not going anywhere. It’s accelerating. Data usage is climbing fast. Customer expectations are rising even faster. And with operators committing to ever-broader population targets, the pressure is real. This isn’t about signal bars anymore, it’s about delivering usable, high-performance connectivity wherever people live, work, travel and gather.

But the path forward isn’t just about throwing more kit at the problem. It’s about rethinking the infrastructure model itself. That’s where Neutral Host Outdoor Deployment (NHOD) comes in, and where outdoor small cells become a crucial enabler.

At Cornerstone, we’ve been working closely with two essential partners to bring this vision to life:

  • Signify, who have built trusted relationships with local authorities and understand how to unlock public infrastructure, especially lighting columns, for digital use.
  • IONX Networks, who bring deep technical integration experience, a track record from Dense Air, and the RAN agility needed to support all operators.

Together, we’re building a blueprint for outdoor small cell deployment that works. One that doesn’t just tick the boxes technically, but understands the local nuance, the planning constraints, the power and fibre considerations, and the all-important commercial model.

Because let’s face it: NHOD has been talked about for years. What’s different now is that we’re finally aligning the pieces:

  • JOTS compliance means operators now have a standardised, scalable way to integrate small cells into their existing networks.
  • Commercial frameworks are starting to take shape, giving operators confidence they can deploy without losing control or differentiation.
  • Local authorities are more open than ever to new solutions, but they need partners who understand their world and can help them see long-term value.

What we’re learning is this: if we can get those three ingredients working in sync: technical credibility, commercial clarity, and local trust, then we can finally deploy at the pace and scale the UK needs.

But it’s not going to happen by accident. It needs coordination. It needs shared ambition. And it needs us, as an industry, to stop treating outdoor small cells like a fringe tactic and start treating them like strategic infrastructure.

At Cornerstone, we’re ready to play our part. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we do know this: our role as a neutral host, working across operators, vendors and regional stakeholders, puts us in a unique position to connect the dots. To turn promising trials into scalable networks. To take NHOD from PowerPoint to street pole.

And we’re already seeing it happen. Towns and cities are starting to lean in. The appetite is there. The urgency is growing. And the benefits, from digital inclusion to future-proofed capacity, are impossible to ignore.

The truth is: this is no longer a technology problem. It’s a coordination challenge. And the prize is huge: a UK mobile network that’s fit for the future; not just in theory, but in practice.

So here’s our call to action.

If you’re an operator: come to the table. NHOD gives you reach, resilience and cost-efficiency, while preserving your brand and network control.

If you’re a local authority: work with us. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The partnerships and frameworks already exist. We’ll help you unlock your own infrastructure for digital use.

If you’re a vendor: let’s collaborate. The market is here. The opportunity is real. But we need joined-up delivery that works from procurement through to performance.

The blueprint is in place. The pressure is mounting. And the UK deserves a mobile infrastructure strategy that’s bold enough to meet the moment.

We’re ready. Let’s build it, together.

www.cornerstone.network/small-cells


by Jamie Hayes, Chief Sales & Commercial Officer, Cornerstone

Rethinking Network Delivery

Written by Dan Ashby on . Posted in Connectivity, Innovation, News, Small Cells, Thought Leadership.

As the UK charts its course toward nationwide 5G and beyond, one truth is increasingly clear: the traditional approach to mobile infrastructure can’t deliver future networks at the pace or scale required. But by learning from global leaders, embracing small cell deployment at scale, and redefining how we collaborate, both as an industry and with local government, real progress is within reach.

Here’s how Cornerstone sees the path forward:

1. Planning reform should enable progress, not delay it

Global markets are showing what pragmatic planning looks like. In Sweden, rooftop installations that don’t materially change a building’s appearance are often exempt from planning permission, a simple exemption with significant impact. Ireland and Scotland are following suit with rooftop solar, recognising that infrastructure serving a wider societal benefit shouldn’t be trapped in bureaucracy.

The same logic must apply to mobile networks. Small cells and neutral host solutions are essential to urban 4G and 5G rollout, and the planning environment must reflect that.

Public sector leadership also plays a critical role. Estonia’s EstWin project is a model of how central coordination, clear targets, and public-private alignment can drive digital infrastructure forward. By contrast, UK infrastructure providers often face fragmented local authority engagement, with unclear roles and inconsistent processes.

To enable meaningful progress, the UK needs a new engagement model, one that brings the right decision-makers to the table early and treats connectivity as a form of critical infrastructure.

2. Small cells aren’t emerging, they’ve arrived

With macro deployments reaching diminishing returns, particularly in dense and constrained areas, small cells are no longer a future concept. They’re the practical solution for delivering high-capacity, low-latency coverage in areas where traditional infrastructure isn’t viable.

Cornerstone’s Small Cell Coverage Solutions are already addressing these challenges head-on, particularly in environments with high footfall or space limitations. The model is neutral host by design, supporting all mobile network operators and leveraging existing assets like street lighting and street furniture in partnership with Signify and IONX Networks.

With over 10% of the macro estate already digitised using drone surveys and digital twins, Cornerstone applies the same smart tools to accelerate and de-risk small cell deployments. This data-led approach enables faster planning, improved sustainability, and reduced on-site disruption.

And this isn’t just about closing gaps. Small cells are foundational to smart cities, connected transport, AR learning, and digital public services. They’re enabling the future, not waiting for it.

3. Shared infrastructure isn’t a compromise, it’s a catalyst

Yes, small cells and fibre are capex-heavy. But they don’t need to be commercially daunting, if approached differently.

Cornerstone’s long-standing neutral host model offers a clear solution. Shared infrastructure reduces cost, duplication, and time-to-market by aggregating demand across mobile network operators. The result is higher utilisation and lower risk; benefits that apply as much to street-level deployments as they do to traditional towers.

Intelligent deployment also matters. With tools like digital twins, remote mapping, and predictive modelling embedded from day one, infrastructure becomes not just more efficient to install, but smarter to manage long-term.

The key is reframing infrastructure not as a sunk cost, but as a scalable value enabler, enabling better coverage, better experience, heightened public safety, and new opportunities for service innovation.

4. Local authorities aren’t blockers, they’re enablers (if we let them be)

One of the biggest inhibitors to infrastructure rollout is misalignment, often due to misunderstanding how local government operates.

In the UK, councils vary widely in function and authority. County councils may not be planning authorities. Planning officers may not be the right point of entry. Infrastructure providers must invest in understanding these structures and build relationships accordingly.

Cornerstone is advocating for a more mature engagement model, one that makes collaboration easier and more productive from the start. By using digital tools like drone surveys and 3D visualisations, we make community consultation more transparent and efficient, helping address concerns around design, aesthetics, and disruption.

Importantly, the tone is shifting. More local authorities now see mobile infrastructure as a public asset, essential to economic development, service delivery, and safety. The opportunity is to meet that interest with support, data, and delivery expertise.

5. Infrastructure sharing isn’t optional, it’s inevitable

Infrastructure sharing is not a new idea. Cornerstone has built its business on it for more than a decade. But what’s new is the breadth of the opportunity.

The same principles that have made macro sharing successful are now being applied to small cells, smart street assets, and even emerging CaaS models. The technology exists. The commercial models exist. What’s needed now is alignment, across operators, government, and partners, to move with purpose.

Shared infrastructure accelerates deployment, cuts cost, and extends connectivity to more people, more quickly. In a market as complex as the UK, that makes it not just viable, but vital.

Final thought: Let’s move from talking to building

The UK has no shortage of ambition around digital connectivity. But if the sector is serious about delivering next-generation networks, it must move beyond pilot projects and siloed initiatives.

Cornerstone’s message is clear: take inspiration from global examples. Embrace small cells at scale. Build better partnerships with local authorities. And treat infrastructure sharing not as a challenge to navigate, but as a strategic advantage to unlock.

The time for debate is ending. The time for delivery is here. Let’s get on with it.

www.cornerstone.network/small-cells

by Vidhu Mayer, Senior Propositions Manager, Cornerstone