Small Cell

Demand for mobile connectivity is exploding. To handle customers’ needs, more wireless infrastructure and new technologies are constantly being devised and deployed. T-Mobile’s multi-spectrum strategy – using low-band, mid-band and high-band (millimeter wave) spectrum– will deliver true national 5G coverage unlike any of our competitors.

In highly-populated areas or locations where large numbers of people congregate, how is coverage and capacity handled?

Small cells and distributed antenna systems are key.

Small cell antennas and distributed network connections are lower power than traditional cell sites, and can handle large quantities of data – as well as large numbers of users.

Because they are smaller than traditional cell sites, their antennas and radios can be located closer to the mobile device user. This is key to enhancing a customer’s mobile experience – whether they are texting, sending pictures, streaming live video, or calling 911.

Outdoor small cells are typically placed in the public right-of-way – on streetlights or utility poles – in dense urban environments and increasingly around neighborhoods where people live. This is because Americans are abandoning wireline phones. According to the United States Government, more than 50 percent of American households depend solely on mobile connectivity.

Indoor small cells are deployed to meet capacity needs in large venues like stadiums, offices, airports, train stations, university campuses and shopping malls. They are deployed in indoor areas or campuses so large crowds of people can simultaneously access a wireless network.

Think of small cells as miniature versions of traditional cell sites. These self-contained cell sites are small, lightweight and low power. They have a range of a few feet to several hundred feet.

A distributed antenna system (DAS) network is made up of a base station connected by fiber optic cable to a group of antennas placed indoors or outdoors. Conceptually, a DAS network of antennas is like a string of lights for a backyard patio: The lights represent the individual antennas, and the electric outlet represents the base station where radio equipment handles the voice and data transmission.

DAS and small cells provide similar power output and coverage areas and both have a small form factor, however there are differences in how they work. DAS networks share and receive signals with remote nodes simultaneously, while small cells operate independently of one another. When necessary, DAS systems can be configured to be shared by multiple carriers and with multi-frequencies.

In today’s connected world, mobile connectivity is an essential need in buildings — just like electrical outlets and plumbing. This means that for buildings and facilities of all kinds and sizes, building owners, operators and commercial developers are investing in their own wireless infrastructure.

But meeting the aesthetic and operational needs of venues, while simultaneously achieving optimal wireless connectivity and network design, is challenging. This is where T-Mobile’s Build Your Own Coverage (BYOC) program can help.

Our BYOC team removes building professionals’ pain points and streamlines the technology deployment process.

You can reach the BYOC team at ACS2@T-Mobile.com