Network operator Three UK claims to have doubled mobile speeds in Glasgow city centre following the first stage of a new tech trial.

In what Three called a ‘landmark’ first deployment of Open RAN infrastructure in a dense urban environment, the trial was designed to test how the tech performs in busy, high-traffic areas, where integration with existing mobile sites and other technologies adds complexity.

As the name suggests, Open RAN, or Open Radio Access Network, aims to open up the Radio Access Network through the use of standardised interfaces and the ‘cloudification’ of hardware and software, allowing components from different vendors to work together.

According to its champions, the technology could provide more flexibility and interoperability for operators, as well as boost competition, helping to future-proof network infrastructure and make for easier upgrades when new technologies emerge.    

After installing Open RAN small cells at eighteen sites across Glasgow city centre, and integrating these with its core network, Three said this latest trial had delivered ‘impressive’ results, reporting that both 4G and 5G speeds doubled at peak times, with 5G speeds reaching up to 520Mbps. 

The network said that the improved performance also helped ease congestion on surrounding mobile sites by increasing overall capacity and handling live traffic from Three customers, marking a major milestone for Open RAN in the UK, which so far has only been used in rural locations.

“This is the UK’s first Open RAN trial to tackle the real-world complexity of a dense urban environment,” said Iain Milligan, Chief Network Officer at Three UK.

“Urban deployments bring a different level of technical and operational challenge compared to rural environments. We’ve had to navigate integration with legacy systems, security layers, and evolving software – all while delivering measurable improvements for customers. 

“The trial results are encouraging and provide a strong foundation for further scaling and optimisation of Open RAN in cities.”

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Part of the SCONDA (Small Cells ORAN in Dense Areas) Project, backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the trial is the latest piece of research aiming to address the commercial challenges of operating mobile networks in high-density demand areas.

According to the UK Telecoms Innovation Network, this new approach could help in streamlining the adoption of Open RAN in live networks, with Three aiming to carry 35% of the UK’s network traffic over open and interoperable RAN architectures by 2030.

With over £9 million in funding, the SCONDA Project will now move into its final deployment phase, expanding to a total of thirty-four Open RAN small cell sites across Glasgow.

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