Manchester's intu Trafford Centre gets superfast 4G from EE
Wireless Infrastructure Group and EE partner with intu to bring 4G mobile technology to one of the UK’s largest retail centres
EE has today launched 4G mobile services at intu Trafford Centre, in partnership with Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG). The service will enable the 31 million annual visitors to the Manchester centre to make the most of their mobile devices while shopping, with centre-wide access to superfast mobile internet. Intu Trafford Centre is the first shopping centre in the UK to have its own 4G infrastructure.
As well as providing high speed 4G data to customers the system, built by WIG, will ensure the best possible call and text experience throughout the centre. The network has been designed so that other operators can also provide services using the new infrastructure.
WIG, the company also behind a similar state of the art network at MediaCity UK in Salford, is working with EE to deploy new networks in numerous sites over the next 18 months.
The centre, one of the most prominent retail and leisure destinations in the UK, is owned and run by Intu Properties plc.
Fotis Karonis, Chief Technology Officer, EE, said: "We’re focused on bringing 4G to the whole country, and that goes beyond where people live and work to include spaces like the intu Trafford Centre in Manchester that are about leisure and retail. We know that shoppers want to stay connected, keeping in touch with friends, sharing on social media and checking online retail sites, and our 4G rollout is about connecting people where they need it most."
Scott Coates, CEO at Wireless Infrastructure Group, said: "WIG has brought intu and EE together in a collaborative approach to deliver the latest technology in the retail environment. The vast majority of mobile data traffic is based indoors and delivering service to venues like intu Trafford Centre with 31 million customers a year can be a challenge. Building a network to meet this challenge has only been possible through our investment and the support of EE and intu. The network can support signals from all mobile operators and is the first in a long list of public spaces that we'll be installing the systems – helping to make the UK more digital and boosting the UK's digital economy."
Trevor Pereira, commercial director at intu said: "The launch of 4G at intu Trafford Centre is part of our wider digital strategy that will guarantee our customers are provided with the best possible shopping and leisure environment. By providing 4G we are making intu Trafford Centre the most digitally connected shopping and leisure destination in the UK. This enhances our customer service, enabling great mobile coverage throughout the centre."
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Notes to Editors
About WIG
Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG) is a leading provider of shared communication infrastructure in the UK. WIG develops, owns and manages shared infrastructure platforms on a wholesale basis that can be used by multiple wireless operators at the same time.
WIG and other wholesale infrastructure providers are at the forefront of network deployment and have made significant investments in networks. Wholesale wireless infrastructure helps reduce lifecycle costs to network operators and reduces the physical impact of multiple deployments which is important to venues such as shopping centres.
WIG is backed by North American infrastructure investors and has major plans to invest further in new network infrastructure in the UK and Europe.
About EE
EE is the largest and most advanced digital communications company in Britain, delivering mobile and fixed communications services to consumers, businesses, government and the wholesale market. With more than 15,000 employees and 600 retail stores, EE serves more than 27 million customers on EE, Orange and T-Mobile mobile and broadband plans.
EE runs the UK's biggest and fastest mobile network, having introduced the UK's first and only superfast 4G mobile service in 2012. In August 2013 EE's 4G coverage reached 60% of the UK population, with plans to cover 98% of the population by 2014. 2G and 3G coverage currently reaches more than 99% of the population. EE's superfast fibre broadband service covers 54% of the UK population, and ADSL broadband service covers 98.7% of the population.
EE has received extensive independent recognition including being ranked the UK's best overall network by RootMetrics®, and Best Network for Business at the 2013 Mobile Industry awards.
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