Unlocking the Future of Neutral Host Outdoors

The UK’s telecommunications landscape is evolving rapidly, with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) facing increasing pressure to expand mobile coverage into areas where traditional deployment models are not commercially viable. The government’s 2023 Wireless Infrastructure Strategy has set an ambitious target for 5G standalone access in all populated areas by 2030, but MNOs cannot realistically achieve this alone. 

This is where Neutral Host Outdoors (NHOD) comes in. NHOD solutions allow multiple MNOs to share infrastructure, improving rural and suburban connectivity while reducing deployment costs. Indoor Neutral Host (NHIB) models are already commercially established, with successful deployments in high-profile locations like the London Underground. However, an agreed commercial model for NHOD is still missing – a gap that must be closed for outdoor neutral hosting to scale sustainably.