Fibre Backbone Installation for 5G Rollout
London Eye
Background
The London Eye is one of the UK’s most famous landmarks and a key attraction operated by Merlin Entertainments. As a globally recognised structure welcoming millions of visitors each year, the attraction relies on modern, resilient connectivity to support operational systems, public services, and digital experience enhancements.
To support the deployment of a new 5G service across the surrounding area, the London Eye required a high-capacity, future-proof fibre backbone linking multiple platforms and network hubs around the site.
Challenge
The London Eye needed a fully upgraded fibre infrastructure that could:
- Support the bandwidth and low-latency requirements of a new 5G network
- Span significant distances across both the landscape and the wheel structure
- Operate reliably within a complex environment, where routing must consider height, movement, public footfall, and environmental exposure
- Provide redundancy and long-term stability for critical communication systems
This required a robust, multi-stage installation using high-performance OS2 singlemode fibre capable of delivering long-distance, high-bandwidth transmission.
Solution
We delivered a full fibre backbone solution across the London Eye site, installing, terminating, and testing dual 96-core OS2 singlemode fibre links.
Phase 1: landscape to southern platform
- Installed, terminated, and tested 96 cores of OS2 fibre
- Created a high-capacity link between the main landscape area and the Southern Platform
- All fibre routed with environmental protection to withstand outdoor and attraction-specific conditions
Phase 2: southern platform to northern platform
- Installed, terminated, and tested a further 96 cores of OS2 fibre
- Extended the backbone infrastructure across the wheel from the Southern to Northern Platform
- Enabled full connectivity around the wheel structure for consistent uptime and improved redundancy
Testing & certification
- All fibre cores tested using Fluke CertiFiber Pro equipment
- Verified optical performance, continuity, and loss margins
- Certified compliance with OS2 singlemode fibre standards for long-term scalability and reliability
Results
The completed installation now forms the core backbone of the new 5G service deployed across the London Eye site.
Key outcomes include:
- High-capacity, low-latency fibre infrastructure supporting modern 5G connectivity
- Reliable communication links spanning the entire landscape and wheel platforms
- Strong foundations for future smart attraction technologies and operational enhancements
- Improved public experience through enhanced network performance around the landmark
We has delivered a robust and future-ready fibre network that keeps the London Eye at the forefront of digital innovation, strengthening both operational capability and visitor connectivity.