The Spectrum Auction
O2 UK won 40MHz, the entire allocation, of 2300MHz spectrum in the recent Ofcom spectrum auction. It is unpaired and for use in Time Division Duplex (TDD), LTE Band 40. The 40MHz allows the operation of two TDD carriers at 20MHz.
The Network Deployment
Two TDD carriers can be deployed by O2 with 4T4R, each of 20MHz. As of April 2018, the first carrier of EARFCN 39250 is being deployed using sector IDs 1x6, while the second of EARFCN 39448 and IDs 1x7 has not been seen much.
O2 Ericsson Beacon 2 2300MHz 8T8R Build
Beacon 2 build with dual 2100MHz Ericsson Radio System (ERS) 2217 per sector, for 4T4R L21, alongside ERS 8808 for O2 2300MHz 8T8R, ERS2217 for 800MHz and ERS 4415 for Vodafone L26 4T4R. Triplexors on the quad band Huawei AQU4518R24v05 high ports to enable the 1800MHz, 4T4R 2100MHz, 4T4R 2600MHz on four high ports per sector. Huawei ATD4516R9 for 8T8R 2300MHz + N78 5G in future.
O2 Nokia 8T8R 2300MHz London Site with AZNC and AEGB
O2 Nokia London site using Nokia AZNC for 8T8R 2300MHz and AHEGB for 1800MHz and 2100MHz 4T4R. Antenna carrying 2300MHz is a Huawei ATD4516R9 as above Ericsson Beacon 2 example.
O2 2300MHz 4G Nokia 4T4R Remote Radio Units
The Nokia Remote Radio Head/Unit (RRU/RRH) used for broadcasting O2's 2300MHz. It is a Nokia FZNJ unit.
Mast layout
An ultra high capacity mast layout upgrade to add the 2300MHz 4T4R 4G onto an existing six sector 3G 900MHz, 3G/4G 2100MHz, 4G 800MHz, 4G 1800MHz and three sector 2G 900MHz site using the spare ports on the Commscope CVV2NPX308.208R.
Early O2 2300MHz 4G Ericsson Radio System site
Early Ericsson Radio System O2 2300MHz site in Leeds. Picture: Chris Gillmore.
Schematic of the Ericsson 2300MHz 4G.