CommScope is adding its expertise in macro site deployment to multiple Andrew RF cell densification solutions to create a portfolio of options that help operators address small cell deployment concerns.
Small cells in an urban macro network.
To alleviate capacity concerns in their macro networks, many wireless operators are exploring or deploying lower power and smaller footprint cell sites.
“Crowded cell sites, zoning restrictions and RF engineering challenges make finding the right solution for adding network capacity with cell densification quite challenging for operators,” said CommScope’s Philip Sorrells, vice president of strategic marketing, Wireless.
“Operators need options that can be tailored based on specific site requirements and deployed in a timely, cost-effective manner without disrupting service.”
Often referred to as small cells, these applications—designed to increase overall sector density, or capacity—can present challenges when it comes to acquiring sites and integrating them into the macro wireless network.
In many urban and suburban areas, because the cost of acquiring a cell site can be greater than the cost of installing equipment, operators are looking to deploy lower power and shorter antenna cells (or mini-cells) that occupy less space.
Operators often must aesthetically reduce the visual impact of their RF equipment to meet zoning and leasing requirements.
Operators also must attend to engineering concerns such as minimizing interference with adjacent sectors and providing adequate backhaul to limit bottlenecking.
CommScope’s versatile small cell solution portfolio includes:
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