What Exactly Is a Small Cell?

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What Exactly Is a Small Cell?

What Exactly Is a Small Cell?

Posted by
Pankaj Gandhi
on
June 2, 2014

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This post is adapted from a post to the TeleTalk

blogon ETTelecom.com.

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Small cells or small cellular base stations encompass a

number of different technologies but one could describe
They are deployed to solve network capacity issues
in a relatively small area, like a hot spot or an important
zone that is a subset of the umbrella macro site
coverage.
Occupying less space, they help ensure seamless
connectivity. Operators can easily replace large cell sites
in crowded urban areas with several smaller cell sites or
even augment cell sites using small cells solutions. By
shrinking and/or breaking the size of each cell,

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operators can support more users per square mile. This means fewer
blocked calls and more consistent data speeds in dense Indian metro cities.
There are several ways that small cells can be deployed to expand
capacity:
Passive Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) -- Known as the
original small cell solution, DAS is an operator, frequency and
network protocol agnostic solution. DAS works by taking a donor feed

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them as anything that's not a typical macro site.

What Exactly Is a Small Cell?

in overlapping coverage areas. It is also a highly effective and efficient
way to distribute wireless connections inside a large building and
eliminate dead zones.
Active Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) -- In large campus
areas, malls and airports where passive DAS has practical limitations in
terms of scalability, active DAS can be considered. Active DAS is an
optical repeater that converts electrical signals into optical signals for

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wider reach. It then translates optical signals back into EMF waves in a
selective manner. Some new low-power radio technologies like
integrated pico or micro base transceiver stations are also being tested

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by operators for fixing localized capacity and coverage.

Concealed, Integrated Metrocells -- These are mini macro sites
that can be installed quickly and more cost-effectively to boost network
capacity. Metrocells address all the common issues related to macro

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cell site deployment in dense urban areas, easing zoning and site
acquisition issues. They can be easily fitted to street furniture such
as lamp posts and are aesthetically pleasing, flexible and scalable.
Multibeam Antennas and Sector Splitting -- When located in areas
with high data traffic, sectors in macro sites need a way to increase
capacity, better penetrate buildings and/or cover a larger outdoor area.
By splitting a sector in two (doubling the capacity) using twin beam
or multibeam antennas, just one antenna is needed to create double
the capacity.

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With these different approaches available, it is easy to see why small cells are
gaining favor amidst site acquisition challenges and the growth of high
usage locations where capacity needs to be increased urgently. A variety of
approaches will be vital for wireless network operators in today's world
where quality of service is a key driver of customer loyalty.

About the Author

Pankaj Gandhi
Pankaj Gandhi is the director of wireless sales for
India & SAARC at CommScope. As the business
head of India, Gandhi is responsible for leading all
customer facing sales activities in the India subregion for the CommScope wireless group. A veteran
in the telecom industry, Gandhi has about 20 years of industry

http://www.commscope.com/Blog/What-Exactly-Is-a-Small-Cell/[12/05/2016 4:51:39 PM]

What Exactly Is a Small Cell?

Siemens Communications for 12 years. Gandhi has a bachelor of
engineering degree in electronics and communication from Delhi
Institute of Technology, Delhi University. He is a silver medalist in
executive masters in international trade of Indian Institute of Foreign
Trade, New Delhi.
See all posts by this author

Categories
Antenna Systems,Capacity Enhancement Solutions,Common Industry
Terms,Distributed Coverage and Capacity,Fiber Distributed Antenna
Systems DAS,Fiber to the Antenna FTTA,Indoor Coverage and Capacity
Solutions,LTE,Metro Cell Solutions,Mobile Operators,Network
Modernization Solutions,RF Solutions,Sector Sculpting,Six Sector
Solution,Small Antenna Technologies,Telecommunications,Ultra-Wideband
Solutions,Wireless,Wireless

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http://www.commscope.com/Blog/What-Exactly-Is-a-Small-Cell/[12/05/2016 4:51:39 PM]

What Exactly Is a Small Cell?

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