Hello, my name is Tiana Mondair and I’m an account manager at connectivity infrastructure-as-a-service provider Freshwave, where I’ve worked for five years. My role focuses on outdoor small cells, liaising between local authorities (LAs) and mobile network operators (MNOs) on where outdoor small cells can be sited to enhance connectivity for communities.
Increasing outdoor deployments for the benefit of residents and businesses is the end goal, and having a clear sense of purpose helps day-to-day. I work tirelessly with LAs to secure legal agreements that permit us to position small cells on assets such as street lights or CCTV columns. Freshwave has been championing this deployment method for years now: in fact, we were the first to sign an open access agreement with a council – Croydon Council – back in 2020.
Collaboration is really important. I spend much of my time talking with potential stakeholders. These relationships are built on openness and trust. No question is a stupid one! Everyone involved must understand the process and benefits, only then will stakeholders be able to make a measured decision.
The open-access approach allows LAs to retain control of their assets and engage with multiple MNOs since they are non-exclusive. And it makes it easier for the MNOs to access, deploy and share council-owned street furniture to enhance capacity in high-footfall areas. For these reasons, it’s becoming increasingly popular and as we continue to showcase these benefits, my job should only become easier. I’ll be able to say, “Look how we improved this area, and this area, and this area, and…”
1/ What do you enjoy most about working in this space?
There is always something new to tackle. Each day is unique. It’s about moving up a level, working on that relationship with the local authority and facing challenges head-on. I never get bored in this job.
2/ What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of work?
When I was working in the project team in a previous role with the company, I received a call to ask if I would be up for moving to Cardiff for a few months. I packed my bag a few days later and ended up staying for six months.
3/ What excites you most about working in telecoms?
I love being part of a team, and industry, that finds or co-creates solutions. And there’s always a new solution to be found.
4/ What would you like people to know about your work?
Working together in the telecoms industry we’re often able to achieve more than the sum of our parts and I think our work with LAs and the MNOs is an excellent example of this.
All the parties involved have the shared end goal of enhanced mobile connectivity for cities and communities. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has a range of excellent resources, such as contract templates, that can help reduce the legwork required for LAs in setting up open access agreements.
Having done so much work in this area for such a long time, we understand the process and challenges that may be involved. We’re keen to share our knowledge and lessons learned with LAs who may be considering outdoor small cells for the first time to help make the journey easier for them. And we’re flexible in our approach, so we’re able to provide as much support as needed to the LAs.
5/ Why is a vibrant, flourishing telecoms ecosystem important for the UK?
Telecoms is so important in our daily lives. We need to not only keep up but lead. From employment to social values, the benefits and opportunities are meaningful to so many, if not all, of us.
