Supporting 5G network infrastructure in Monaghan town centre
Recessed access covers | STAKKAbox™ access chambers
Project overview
The rollout of full-service 5G connectivity in Monaghan town centre required reliable underground network infrastructure across multiple locations.
Each area brought different requirements. The work covered a range of paved surfaces, from narrow footpaths to larger public areas. Some locations needed large multi-cover arrangements, while others called for smaller bespoke covers or standard-sized units.
For Cubis Systems, this kind of project is our bread and butter. We supplied recessed access covers (covering our STAKKAbox™ access chambers) to suit each setting. This gave the project team a consistent access solution across the town centre, while allowing the cover size and configuration to reflect the space, surface finish, and access requirements at each individual location.
The supplied covers were recessed to take the surrounding paving. This helped them sit neatly within the finished surface, rather than interrupting it. And, crucially, they also provided safe access to the telecommunications infrastructure below.
📸 Pictured: A multi-cover arrangement covering a large chamber opening, situated beside a busy store-front area
The challenge
Town centre infrastructure projects must balance the technical needs of network operators with the expectations of local authorities, businesses, and residents. For this installation, the access solution needed to:
- Support the delivery and ongoing maintenance of a full-service mobile network
- Blend neatly with the surrounding paved surfaces in a highly visible public environment
- Provide safe, practical access to below-ground network infrastructure
- Accommodate a finish that reflected the end customer’s branding and credentials
- Contribute to a professional, high-quality installation appropriate for an urban town centre
- Accommodate a range of cover sizes and configurations across multiple locations, including standard units, bespoke sizes and larger multi-cover arrangements.
Standard solid-top covers could have created a visible interruption in the finished surface. So, a more sympathetic solution was needed to preserve the appearance of the public realm while maintaining essential access for network maintenance teams.
📸 Pictured: A more standard recessed cover arrangement, integrated neatly into a public pathway in Monaghan city centre
📸 Pictured: Installation locations across the 5G network infrastructure project in Monaghan
The solution
Cubis Systems supplied recessed access covers in a range of sizes and frame configurations to suit the different locations across Monaghan town centre.
Standard sized covers were used where they suited the chamber layout. Elsewhere, bespoke sizes were supplied to fit the available space and paving pattern. Larger multi-cover arrangements provided access to bigger underground assets.
This flexibility allowed the same cover approach to be used throughout the project, despite the varying footpath widths, surface finishes and access requirements.
Our solution allows the surface material to be incorporated into the cover tray, creating a finish that sits naturally within the surrounding paving. So, each access point can integrate cleanly into the town centre surface while retaining a durable, serviceable route to the underground telecommunications network.
The recessed format also enabled the inclusion of branded end user credentials, giving the installation a distinctive and professional finish aligned with the network operator’s requirements.
📸 Pictured: Custom badging details featuring the Eircom logo
“Our recessed cover range is specified with sole approval by a number of major utility providers. It has been used on high-profile landscaped projects like this one globally, providing a proven way to maintain access to critical underground infrastructure while preserving the finished streetscape."
Key project benefits
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Seamless streetscape integration
By infilling the recessed cover trays with the chosen surface finish, the access covers visually align with the surrounding town-centre paving. This reduces visual clutter and supports a consistent public-realm appearance.
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Support for critical 5G infrastructure
The installation forms part of the infrastructure supporting full-service mobile connectivity in Monaghan. Reliable access to below-ground assets is essential for installation, inspection, maintenance and future network activity.
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Bespoke branded finish
Branded end-user credentials were incorporated into the finished access points, providing clear identification while reinforcing the quality and ownership of the installation.
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Accessible and practical maintenance solution
Recessed access covers provide an effective balance between discreet appearance and functional access, helping maintenance teams reach critical network infrastructure when required.
The outcome
The project delivered a streetscape-sensitive access solution to support the expansion of 5G services in Monaghan town centre. By combining our recessed covers with a surface-matched finish and branded credentials, Cubis Systems helped create an installation that is both functional and visually integrated.
And, beneath the covers, our STAKKAbox™ chamber systems provided the underground access structure for the telecommunications network. Their modular construction allowed chambers to be configured around the requirements of each location quickly and easily. The lightweight ring sections also made the systems easier to handle on site, which is particularly valuable on busy town centre schemes with restricted working areas.
Together, the STAKKAbox™ chambers and recessed access covers created an adaptable solution that maintained access to critical network infrastructure while respecting the finished streetscape.
📸 Pictured: A recessed cover with an infill blend to sit discreetly within the cobbled and paved areas of the city centre pavement
Planning a city centre infrastructure project? Speak to the Cubis Systems team about access solutions that provide practical underground access, without compromising the finished surface.
FAQ
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How can Cubis support 5G network infrastructure projects?
Cubis Systems has supported the telecoms sector for decades, working with network operators, designers, and contractors to deliver practical underground infrastructure for fibre roll-outs, network upgrades and new connections.
Our telecoms range includes modular access chambers and covers, ducting and cable protection systems, and chamber accessories. By supplying compatible products as a complete system, we help project teams reduce installation time, labour, site risk and disruption. All while making projects more sustainable.
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What load rating do recessed covers achieve?
Cubis Systems recessed covers are suitable for environments rated to B125 under EN124. Typical applications include footways, pedestrian areas, car parks and shared-space schemes with slow-moving traffic. The required load rating should always be confirmed against the final installation location and anticipated traffic.
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How are recessed covers designed for safer maintenance access?
Each cover leaf uses a lift-and-slide arrangement, with tapered sides and centralised lifting points. This allows the cover to be lifted and slid from the frame rather than lifted from a corner. Filled cover leaves are designed not to exceed 78kg, while removable cross-pieces in multi-cover arrangements have a maximum weight of 19kg.
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How do multi-cover recessed arrangements work?
For larger chamber openings, recessed covers can be configured as multi-cover units using cross-beams and removable cross-pieces. This creates a larger overall opening while retaining smaller individual cover leaves for more manageable access during maintenance.
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How are recessed covers protected against distortion?
The cover trays are manufactured from 6mm steel to resist bowing under the weight and strain of the infill material. Frames and cross-pieces are produced from rolled steel section and galvanised for corrosion protection.
