IONX Networks and Britain's Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) have integrated a neutral host small cell into VMO2's live 5G standalone (SA) core network.

Claimed to be a U.K. first, the firms carried out testing with standard 5G handsets connected to VMO2’s 5G SA core through 5G small cells in the town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire. IONX provided its software-defined architecture, which supports both multi-operator radio access network (MORAN) and multi-operator core network (MOCN) features.

The interconnect between each operator and IONX was managed via the Joint Operators Technical Specification (JOTS) framework for neutral host networks, specifically using the B-Interface which connects the two domains. IONX said the architecture is aligned with the O-RAN Alliance’s overarching framework, along with requirements from the FCC and major U.S. carriers.

The tests reportedly demonstrated strong results in speed, capacity, and latency, with a neutral host small cell using shared spectrum of 100 MHz in the n77 band seeing an 800 Mb/s download speed, and 80 Mb/s for upload.

With an IONX neutral host small cell using VMO2 spectrum of 40 MHz in band n78, speeds of 300 Mb/s download and 30 Mb/s upload were recorded.

VMO2 positioned the trial’s success as a major development for 5G SA deployment, touting a secure and scalable 4G and 5G interconnect framework.

IONX broke this down into possible use cases such as ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), massive machine-type communications, fixed wireless access, and network slicing.

The Illinois, U.S.-headquartered firm also made the case for reduced CAPEX/OPEX spend when compared to deploying single operator small cell networks.

Like VodafoneThree, VMO2 is expanding its 5G SA network. Currently covering over 500 British towns and cities, and reaching 70% of the country’s population, VMO2 claims to operate the U.K.’s largest 5G standalone deployment.

The operator has previously worked with British firm Ontix on neutral host small cells for 5G SA deployments in Plymouth, Birmingham, and Reading.