Delivering integrated hardware for diverse small cell deployments
CableFree was recognised in the 2026 SCF Mobile Network Awards for its Integrated Smart Small Cell Platform, winning the category for Outstanding hardware and components, products or technology.
The award highlighted the role that well-integrated hardware can play in making small cell networks more adaptable across different deployment environments. CableFree’s platform underpins its SmartPod, SmartPole and SmartPack solutions.
Commenting on the entry, the panel of judges said: “The CableFree entry is a great example of how excellence in hardware integration at all levels can result in a platform that can perform strongly in a wide variety of scenarios and applications.”
That point is increasingly important for the small cell sector. A network might be deployed in a dense urban location, an enterprise site or an industrial environment, while meeting differing requirements for spectrum, capacity, physical design and network architecture.
CableFree’s platform supports a broad choice of frequency bands, power levels and MIMO configurations. It also supports integrated, virtualised RAN and Open RAN deployments, enabling customers to select approaches that balance performance, latency and cost.
The platform is designed for private 5G, neutral host and high-capacity urban connectivity requirements. Remote configuration and software upgrade capabilities support the evolution of networks from 4G LTE through 5G, without unnecessary on-site hardware changes.
Stephen Patrick, CEO of CableFree, said:
“We are honoured to receive this recognition from Small Cell Forum, which reflects the strength of our engineering and our commitment to delivering practical, high-performance solutions for real-world deployments. Our integrated smart small cell platform was designed from the ground up to address the growing complexity of modern wireless networks, combining flexibility, scalability and reliability in a single architecture.”
The judges’ decision reflects the importance of hardware platforms that can support a range of network models and deployment conditions, rather than being designed for a single use case. As small cell networks expand into more varied locations, those practical considerations will remain central to successful deployment.