- O2 installs eight new small cells in St Ives and Newquay, with five more due shortly, as part of its rapid-deployment strategy.
- The installations aim to ease network congestion in tourist hotspots, but questions persist over long-term impact and visual disruption.
What happened: Small cells installed at key coastal spots
O2, in partnership with Freshwave, has deployed five small cells in St Ives and three in Newquay, with further installations planned shortly. These units are strategically placed at Porthminster and Porthmeor beaches, Tolcarne beach, and Newquay train station, aiming to boost capacity in Cornwall’s busiest areas ahead of the staycation season. O2 claims this expands its reach as the UK operator with the most small cells deployed, having just passed the 2,000-site milestone. The company’s £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan underpins this deployment, targeting improved 4G and 5G coverage.
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Why it’s important
For residents and tourists in Cornwall, the new small cells offer tangible benefits: better reception, faster browsing, and fewer dropped calls during peak periods. Deploying on existing street infrastructure like lampposts, these cells avoid the usual aesthetic objections of large masts while promising more resilient, localised coverage.
However, several concerns remain. Tourist-driven network spikes could strain capacity if the small cell network isn’t adequately maintained or scaled over time. Questions also linger about whether O2’s accelerated rollout is matched by long-term investment in rural infrastructure. Additionally, small cells—even visually subtle—can face local resistance if residents perceive them as intrusive in scenic areas. Finally, while small cells boost immediate mobile performance, they may not address deeper broadband challenges in Cornwall’s rural hinterlands without aligned fibre or fixed wireless upgrades.
