A UK-based neutral host provider has launched what it claims is a UK market first: a single indoor system delivering 4G and 5G connectivity from all major mobile networks on day one, while slashing energy use compared with traditional solutions.
Freshwave’s “5G on Omni” uses Ericsson’s Radio Dot System to bring signal from EE, O2, and VodafoneThree (the merged Vodafone and Three entity) into buildings via a shared small-cell infrastructure.
The solution builds directly on the company’s earlier Omni Network, which launched in June 2024 as the world’s first 4G indoor small-cell platform carrying all four UK operators (prior to the Vodafone-Three merger) and has already covered or is in the process of covering more than six million square feet of UK real estate.
Why indoor 5G matters
Modern buildings, with their energy-efficient glass and thick materials, often block outdoor mobile signals, creating “not-spots” that hurt productivity.
Freshwave cites its own Mobile Connectivity ROI Index, which estimates the UK could unlock £70 billion in added economic value by eliminating indoor mobile dead zones.
Traditional distributed antenna systems (DAS) have long been the go-to for in-building coverage, but they come with drawbacks including heavy cabling, large equipment footprints in comms rooms, high installation costs, and significant power consumption for heating, cooling, and operation.
5G on Omni addresses these by using a more modern small-cell architecture.
Freshwave says it consumes up to 50% less energy than a comparable DAS, requires less cabling and physical space, and can be deployed faster and at lower cost.
For buildings already using Freshwave’s 4G Omni Network, upgrading to 5G is a software change rather than a full hardware rip-and-replace.
The system connects securely to the mobile operators’ core networks and is managed end-to-end by Freshwave from its data centre as a fully managed service.
It supports environments from single floors to multi-million-square-foot sites and is available via a flexible “pay-as-you-occupy” model: landlords can cover shared/common areas, while tenants subscribe directly when they move in.
Early traction and operator backing
The solution is already live at Workspace’s Record Hall in central London, a flexible office and workshop space where SMEs benefit from seamless coverage regardless of their mobile provider.
“Good connectivity should be something our SME customers don’t have to think about. With 5G on Omni from Freshwave now live at Record Hall, our customers can rely on seamless mobile coverage throughout the building, whichever network they use,” said Chris Boultwood, Head of Technology at Workspace.
Notably, all three major operators have publicly welcomed the launch.
“Working with Freshwave helps extend the performance of our 4G and 5G network indoors, bringing more consistent, high-quality mobile experiences to the spaces where people live, work and spend time,” said James Hope, Director of Mobile Radio Access Networks at EE.
This was echoed by Ericsson’s Luca Orsini, Head of Ericsson North Europe. “It highlights how shared indoor infrastructure can accelerate high-quality 5G coverage and capacity at a lower total cost of ownership than legacy solutions,” he said.
Freshwave reports ‘strong demand’ for the service with deployments underway this year for clients in financial services, luxury goods, and a global FMCG company.
Leave a Reply