Mobile giant Vodafone has joined forces with JCDecaux, the largest outdoor advertising company in the world, to increase network connectivity by deploying small cells on billboards, benches and other outdoor installations.
This planned large-scale deployment, announced on Dec. 10, is an expansion of a pilot program in the Netherlands.
In that case, Vodafone Netherlands partnered with the advertiser to drop 160 small cells onto JCDecaux bus shelters around the Dutch capital Amsterdam.
Per the deal, Vodafone will drop the small cells and manage the tech; JCDecaux will design and manufacture the equipment housing.
Small cells are radio-access nodes deployed primarily in dense, urban areas to provide better 3G and 4G connectivity. Small cells are also a major part of the data offloading infrastructure equation.
JCDecaux Chairman and Co-CEO Jean-Charles Decaux said: “After successful testing in Amsterdam, we are pleased to continue our collaboration with Vodafone by supporting its strategy to develop the quality of its networks.”
“Connected street furniture is set to transform city life and JCDecaux is enthusiastic about contributing to these structural changes, providing last benefits to municipalities and citizens,” he said.
Kevin Salvadori, Vodafone’s director of technology strategy and operation said the firm is “delighted” to continue partnering with JCDecaux.
“This agreement will help us accelerate the deployment of small cell technology by giving us access to locations that, in the past, have not been available for network installations,” he said.
Vodafone operates mobile networks in 26 countries, has telecom partnerships in 53 more, and runs fixed broadband in 17 markets.
The company, headquartered in Newbury, England, United Kingdom, has some 438 million mobile customers and 11 million fixed-broadband customers.
The deal will see small cells dropped in the U.K., Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, Australia, Qatar, Czech Republic, India, Turkey, Hungary and South Africa.
JCDecaux, founded in 1964, controls some 480,400 street furniture panels, 222,940 large-format panels, 379,000 transportation panels and 40,210 airport panels.
