Cellhire - Experts & Thought Leaders

Cellhire won “Best Connectivity Solution” at Comms Business Awards 2025, July 17th, for its “Count Cam” system, a streamlined solution for live broadcasting deployed nationwide for the UK General Election in 2024. The Count Cam cameras, using Cellhire’s multi-network IoT SIMs in iPhones, enabled the BBC to live stream UK General Election counts and results to millions of viewers, helping the corporation to overcome the cost and logistical problems of broadcasting from 390 vote counting locations across the UK during the night of July 4th-5th. Pre-configured iPhone kits Cellhire UK Managing Director, Matt Bennett, said, “We’re very honoured to win this award. Our multi-network IoT SIM cards allowed the Count Cams to remain connected, always, to the best available UK mobile network. They ensured extensive geographic coverage and reduced the chance of any downtime to close to zero. In fact, we had no down time. It was a very smooth operation, overseen by our dedicated staff throughout.” Streams from the Count Cam packages were transmitted to a virtual screen in the BBC TV studio, with individual streams accessible via iPlayer and the BBC’s online constituency pages. Cellhire pre-configured iPhone kits to provide, with the Count Cams, a cost-effective alternative to deploying full news crews, and enable a fast and efficient setup of broadcast-quality live feeds. The user-friendly design and simple instructions meant that anyone could set up and operate the kits.

Cellhire, a specialist in mobile communications, M2M/IoT services and data connectivity, announces a strategic partnership with OV, a provider of resilient and robust IoT connectivity. The partnership eliminates excessive charges for roaming IoT devices by giving Cellhire’s clients and channel partners access to more than 600 direct roaming agreements globally, in a permanent roaming solution. “As the demand for IoT devices continues to rise, businesses are increasingly deploying IoT solutions that span multiple countries, allowing them to enhance productivity and streamline operations on a global scale,” says Matt Bennett, Cellhire’s UK Managing Director. Cellhire and OV form strategic partnership Matt Bennett adds, “However, many businesses persist in using traditional voice and data SIM cards to fuel their IoT connectivity. As these SIM cards were not designed for this purpose, it often results in high roaming charges being incurred that prompt the MNOs to resort to abrupt SIM disconnections.” “Consequently, IoT devices become inoperable causing disruptions to vital services without any prior warning,” said Matt Bennett, adding “Our partnership with OV effectively addresses these challenges for our customers and partners.” Major advancement The multi-network partnership allows Cellhire to deploy tens of thousands of SIM cards remotely The multi-network partnership allows Cellhire to deploy tens of thousands of SIM cards remotely. It also marks a major advance for the company allowing it to provide more dependable and cost-effective IoT connectivity solutions for devices that frequently move between different countries. Matt Bennett comments, “Cellhire understands the importance for our customers and channel partners of having smooth worldwide IoT connectivity. The partnership with OV gives us a strong network infrastructure and expertise to help us provide a roaming solution that’s future-proofed and fit for international operations.” Accelerate and simplify IoT connectivity Paul Donaldson, the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at OV, welcomed Cellhire as a partner, stating, “Cellhire’s innovative solutions as a global telecoms provider make this an excellent partnership, and we are excited to accelerate and simplify IoT connectivity for its customers. The partnership brings together both the technical and commercial strengths of both companies to deliver exceptional IoT connectivity solutions to customers worldwide.” This announcement further enhances Cellhire’s IoT offering which includes global roaming with access to 40+ MNOs and seamless UK connectivity through its un-steered multi-network solution. Cellhire also provides convenient UK and global single networks, and reliable services across Europe through its full MVNO on Orange France.

UK-based global connectivity solutions provider and MVNO, Cellhire is utilising its eSIM-based mobile network, ‘eSIMsmart’, in order to provide mobile connectivity over-the-air to its news media customers, including print/online, TV, radio and news agencies, in Ukraine. Martyn Stevens, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), at Cellhire Group (Cellhire), said “The eSIM based mobile connectivity is essential to ensuring individuals are contactable and have a communications lifeline. Cellhire is supporting many companies, broadcasters and media journalists that are already on the ground or heading to Ukraine to report and broadcast on the situation.” Cellhire’s eSIMsmart solution deployed in Ukraine The invasion of Ukraine has created a crisis for companies with employees located there" He adds, “The invasion of Ukraine has created a crisis for companies with employees located there. Our eSIM solution is an essential lifeline in these crucial times, keeping users on the ground connected.” Martyn Stevens said, “Utilising our MVNO eSIMsmart, we are providing eSIM profiles, instead of physical SIM cards, meaning mobile connectivity is provisioned instantaneously over-the-air in Ukraine, avoiding the logistical distribution challenges faced in delivering physical SIMs in-country.” Satellite phones for customers going to Ukraine In addition to eSIM mobile connectivity, Cellhire is providing satellite phones to many customers who are travelling to Ukraine, during the ongoing crisis, as an essential emergency backup. Cellhire Group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Martyn Stevens, stated “Satellite phones are particularly beneficial in case of local mobile network outages, blackouts or potential cyber-security related incidents in Ukraine. Like many European mobile network operators, Cellhire has delivered several support packages across its partner networks, to help customers in and outside of Ukraine.”