Virgin Media O2 has deployed a cost-effective 4G small cell at Cochno Farm, the University of Glasgow’s teaching and research farm.
The deployment demonstrates how mobile connectivity, power delivery, fibre backhaul and IoT services can be combined into a single unified infrastructure at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches. Using VoltServer’s Digital Electricity technology, the solution safely delivers power and fibre over a single small-diameter cable across distances of up to 2km, removing one of the most significant barriers to rural small cell deployment.
The 4G base station, developed by the University of Glasgow and built to the Joint Operators Technical Specification, operates as a multi-operator neutral host, meaning it can serve customers across networks from a single piece of shared infrastructure. The same power backbone also supports an on-site EV charger, demonstrating the versatility of the integrated approach.
At Cochno Farm, the connectivity underpins a broader programme of agricultural research, linking livestock monitors, environmental sensors and farm management systems into a single connected network. The result is real-time visibility of animal health, welfare and environmental conditions for farmers, vets and researchers, supporting faster decisions and more targeted interventions.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: "This innovative pilot at Cochno Farm shows how collaboration between industry, academia and government has the potential to deliver practical and affordable advanced wireless connectivity solutions for our rural communities.
"I’m pleased that Scottish Government funding has supported the University of Glasgow, Virgin Media O2 and partners in making it possible. Initiatives like this represent an important step towards a more connected, resilient, and energy-efficient Scotland, giving businesses and communities greater opportunities to benefit from the digital economy."
David Owens, Head of Technical Trials, at Virgin Media O2, said: "Following our successful 5G Drive Project, this initiative was driven by our ambition to find practical, scalable ways to reach customers wherever they are. Working with the Scottish Futures Trust, VoltServer and the University of Glasgow, we’ve shown how mobile infrastructure, power, fibre and IoT can be deployed as a single, cost-effective solution."
Professor Muhammad Ali Imran, Head of the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, said: "This project shows how academic innovation and operator deployment expertise can come together to deliver new connectivity solutions for rural and remote environments, a subject very close to my heart of connecting the unconnected."
Dr Shuja Ansari, the University of Glasgow’s project lead, said: "This pilot demonstrates how off-grid low-power cost-effective 4G radios, IoT systems and EV charging - backhauled via satellite - can be delivered through shared, low-cost infrastructure, providing a scalable connectivity and power model for rural environments."
Ronna Davis, Chief Revenue Officer, VoltServer, said: "When you can move power safely and efficiently over the same cabling used for communications, it becomes possible to power sites that were previously too difficult or too expensive to reach. At Cochno Farm, one intelligent power backbone now supports 4G coverage, EV charging, and future applications that improve operations."
Paul Korzeniewski, CTO, KTL Ltd: "We’re incredibly proud to support this pioneering initiative at Cochno Farm. Delivering the civil design, construction, and installation services for such a cutting edge deployment reflects exactly the kind of forward thinking engineering KTL is known for. This project demonstrates how innovative power, fibre, and mobile technologies can be brought together to solve real world rural connectivity challenges. We’re excited about what this collaboration unlocks and look forward to supporting the next phase as the testbed continues to evolve."
The Cochno Farm testbed will continue to evolve, with robotics, computer vision, automation and expanded IoT deployments planned for future phases.
Scalable rural connectivity solution deployed at Cochno Farm
