Challenging the UK Digital Infrastructure Market

Launched in January 2020, Digital Colony-backed Freshwave Group plans to simplify the UK’s digital infrastructure market. With 5000+ mast site locations, 2000+ connected buildings and 200+ outdoor networks supported, The Freshwave Group brings together expertise in indoor, outdoor and mast digital infrastructure. TowerXchange speak to The Freshwave Group’s newly appointed CEO, Simon Frumkin to find out more.

TowerXchange: Please can you introduce yourself and your background in the telecommunications sector

I have worked in leadership positions at UK mobile operators for more than 20 years, including EE, Orange and T-Mobile. Most recently, I was Managing Director of EE’s Emergency Services Network (ESN) Division, tasked with delivering a new critical communications network to 300,000 frontline first responders. I also served as Non-Executive Chairman at Mobile Broadband Network Ltd (MBNL), a network joint venture between EE and Three. I joined the Freshwave Group to tackle industry challenges from a different angle, and lead a more constructive and collaborative approach to the digital infrastructure market.

TowerXchange: Please can you introduce Freshwave Group companies, the scope of their services and how they, along with Digital Colony, complement each other. How will their grouping together under the Freshwave brand change the way in which they operate?

The Freshwave Group was brought together to make digital infrastructure simple. Digital Colony intrinsically understand the value of combined telecoms and real estate know-how and acquired businesses that can offer a truly end-to-end digital infrastructure service to all four network operators as well as the real estate market in the UK.

Whether indoors or outdoors, mobile network challenges can be complex and costly, so we’re creating collaborative commercial models that work for all the parties involved. We are doing this using specialist knowledge that both our telecoms and real estate customers can rely on, with access to global expertise and capital that can help us take a long-term view on infrastructure investments, as well as the capability to deliver on our promises.

The three Group companies are multi-operator indoor mobile signal as-a-service pioneers StrattoOpencell, high capacity and outdoor small cell network experts iWireless Solutions, and ground and rooftop mast specialists Spyder. 

As the Freshwave Group we can offer our customers what they really need; an expert network service provider they can trust, and new ways for them to always connect their customers. 

Many of our most recent projects involve cross-company delivery, and even pre-existing customers have started to see the benefit of the expanded capabilities across the Group. Whether that be multi-operator connectivity, accelerated upgrade paths or better commercial arrangements. 

TowerXchange: Can you introduce some of the key initiatives Freshwave’s companies have been involved in to date?

Whether public or private, 4G or 5G, indoors or outdoors, we’re getting network to people in the right places, faster and for less. We like to do things first, and a good example is that we are the organisation that Vodafone first shared unused 4G spectrum with. We are using it to connect a holiday park in Devon where fibre connectivity is a challenge. Equally, we’re delivering multi-operator network coverage for customers in scenarios ranging from single-storey units to skyscrapers, police stations and hospitals, shopping malls and airports, stadia and conference venues.

TowerXchange: Partnerships with building owners, municipalities, owners of street infrastructure and other stakeholders are becoming of increasing importance. Can you share some of the different win-win models that Freshwave is exploring with different stakeholders to deliver both indoor and outdoor connectivity?

We do it by reimaging the economics and practicality of digital networks. When you’re talking about digital network deployment and management, the ability to deliver truly win-win models can be boiled down to two key themes; the commercial arrangements you can offer, and the in-house expertise you have to deliver value to all the stakeholders involved. 

That’s why we find or create collaborative commercial models which, alongside our expertise, enable an end-to-end service for our customers: whether they be a mobile operator, real estate provider, or local and central government.

Indoors, we deliver multi-operator mobile services based on what a customer needs. Sometimes it’s only necessary in a public area of a building, or a property owner might want to be able to offer future tenants’ mobile connectivity as an optional service. We work with the customer to find a way to deliver what they’re looking for commercially, while factoring in our deep understanding of the technical requirements and therefore best options within that scope.

The wider context is that the desire to invest in indoor connectivity is on the rise. For example, our recent Enterprise Connectivity Matters research revealed that 39% of senior leaders of enterprise organisations are going to invest in mobile connectivity in their workspaces within the next two years. While another 49% are already considering such an investment. People are trying to respond to their customer or employee connectivity desires, and we’re helping them get that network as quickly as possible.

Outdoors we have a very similar approach and are working to develop the neutral host small cell and mast models that will deliver connectivity faster, for less and in the right places for all the stakeholders involved.

TowerXchange: When discussing in-building connectivity, there is a lot of debate around small cell vs DAS (complicated by a blurring of definitions) and private LTE vs Wi-Fi vs fibre, with all expected to play some role going forward. Being technology agnostic, can you share some thoughts around the trends you see, where are different solutions delivering real advantages? Are new technologies changing the design of indoor networks?

Great question! Rather than viewing small cells and DAS as competing with Wi-Fi or private LTE, we see them as complementary technologies that have their own roles to play. We approach every new deployment with an open mind and select the best combination of technologies to deliver the connectivity our customer and their customers’ need.

For instance, some developers or building owners need connectivity but also need to preserve the appearance of their interior design, or they haven’t designed large enough comms room into the building from the outset. That’s where having a versatile technology approach can make connectivity possible.

Equally, we are in many ways led by the technical choices of the network operators. We follow their lead and extend their network using the technology they select to build their networks.

And yes, there will be more change, particularly as 5G indoor products develop. Interestingly, in indoor settings, we are seeing some 4G network set-ups performing at levels that are comparable to 5G – it’s quite amazing.

TowerXchange: With a background working for a number of MNOs, can you paint some colour around the financial pressure that MNOs are facing in densifying 4G networks and preparing for 5G. Does the neutral host model become an absolute must in delivering connectivity? What needs to change around the relationship between MNOs and neutral hosts such as towercos and how are Freshwave positioning themselves?

The MNOs are in a challenging position. Network demands are increasing, while price points are being driven down. At the same time, they don’t have a digital infrastructure supply chain they can trust. 

Neutral host solutions have been an option for a while, so the significant change will be in the network services wrapped around those technical solutions, and how they are provided both to and on behalf of all of the operators.

Both myself and our Chairman Graham Payne have a lot of experience in network sharing and we understand the ways that this will become hugely important to all of our customers in the next few years. 

TowerXchange: Some of the M2M use cases of 5G will necessitate 99.999% uptime. Is this something which you are currently preparing for and if so, what steps are you taking?

We are helping our customers prepare in two key ways at the moment. Firstly indoors, we’re helping to develop upgrade paths for our customers as part of their managed service. And then outdoors, where we are working with the operators to understand the technical realities of 5G network deployment, particularly in places where high capacity is needed.

A lot of our work develops industry use cases through pilots, an important early stage of network development.

TowerXchange: We have seen clear signs in the European market of MNOs re-evaluating their passive infrastructure outsourcing strategy. Do you envisage a complete separation of network and retail functions in the long run and does Freshwave have an appetite to move further up the value chain to provide full network as a service?

We are all about helping our customers, the MNOs, real estate providers and local and central government, provide a service to their customers. There’s a lot of value to be added at that level of the chain.

TowerXchange: Does Freshwave have plans for international expansion?

Our current focus is on the UK because that’s where our customers and highly experienced teams are based.