Smallcells

Offloading solutions for carriers

Smallcells are an effective offloader, but are still complex to integrate. The fixed location of the smallcell alleviates the location verification issues of femtocells, but in the outdoor usage scenario, they require more effective interference avoidance planning and mechanisms.

Smallcells have until now been primarily aimed at outdoor deployment to augment the existing macrocell network, whereas femtocells are indoor-orientated with low output power to restrict usage to a target facility.

With the introduction of indoor smallcell solutions similar to Huawei's LampSite and Ericsson's Radio Dot, solutions are now available for rapid deployment of middle-sector enterprise requirements (5,000 to 15,000 sq m/50,000 to 150,000 sq ft). This sits well in the gap between enterprise femtocell and DAS deployments both in terms of cost and subscriber capability.

With the ever increasing demand on carrier radio networks due to the proliferation of smartphones, there is a need to find solutions to ease the exponentially increasing load on macrocells. Routing data down the nearest terrestial or PtP backhaul connection is a very effective solution.

This is where the smallcell comes in. These discreet radio units are mounted on billboards, lampposts and buildings. They are used in high volume locations, and backhaul the traffic via low-range microwave radio link to the nearest parent base station with a fibre or PtP connection point.