Mobile Phone Technology

The classical view of mobile phone transmission is for large (macro) cells to be erected to cover a significant area (100 sq. km.) and we use these with our phones. Each of these macro cells has a capacity and if this capacity is limiting consumer experience one solution is to build another macro cell in the area. Building macro cells is difficult from a planning viewpoint and cost. Often the requirement is for more localised network capacity in areas such as high streets, shopping malls, sports stadia or music festivals.

One solution is to build and install small cells. These small cells are the size of a shoe box and can be mounted on street furniture such as lamp posts - hence the term smart lamp posts. These small cells will provide both 4G and 5G coverage over small areas using mid-range frequencies [3.4GHz to 3.8GHz for 5G] and will be tuned to cover the small target area. These small cells will invoke more call handovers but if the customer is walking, or stationary, this will not be a problem. These cells do need a backhaul to the core network. They can connect back to the nearest macro tower, connect to another small cell and hence back to the macro cell. Whilst mobile phone technology to crate the backhaul; they could use some other form of radio frequency such as microwaves or Ulta Wide communications; or could capture a passing fibre cable.

Small cells will come more into their own when the UK releases the 26GHz waves for mobile phone technology, the mmWaves. These will have a much greater capacity than the 3.4GHz to 3.8GHz waves, and can be put to use in the areas that need added capacity.