Market need
The need for sufficient and fast mobile coverage in densely populated areas has not been fully met due to a substantial increase in the number of subscribers, the increasing use of mobile data and the weaknesses of certain aspects of incumbent wireless infrastructure solutions – ‘unsightly’ large footprint, base stations erected at great cost and delay.
Given the understandable need for meeting regulatory requirements, which include bureaucratic processes and multi-party collaboration, it takes months to be granted permission to erect traditional large mobile base stations.
As a result of the slower rollout of traditional large mobile base stations, mobile network coverage provided to meet a rapidly expanding urban requirement will always be behind the curve, often, for example, resulting in calls being dropped mid-conversation along motor-ways.
What is therefore needed is a cost effective mobile wireless infrastructure that can be installed rapidly, designed such that only limited regulatory authorities are required, but which provides comparable wireless signal density and speed in the immediate area to traditional large mobile base station installations. Such a solution can rightly be seen as supporting the urban mobile communication needs of both subscribers and mobile network operators.
Technology solution
The solution that answers to all these needs is a new breed of ‘low-profile’ base station – a visually appealing, small-form-factor tower and equipment shelter that can be rolled out rapidly to provide increased wireless capacity between the traditional larger base stations.
This new solution comprises a pre-cast concrete plinth, a mono-pole with antenna heights ranging from 15m – 25m high, and a modular cabinet housing the power and RF equipment. Network back-haul connectivity is provided via fibre optic or microwave links.
The core product is supplied by Tellumat Integrated Solutions’ (TIS) original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and can be installed and commissioned within a week of all permissions being in place.
Low-profile sites are typically installed in gated communities or on street sidewalks, where the traditional base station high towers and serious excavations are out of the question, and a more aesthetically pleasing solution is required.
Benefits
A traditional greenfield telecoms base station site with 45-54m high lattice towers requires significant civil construction work and can take up to six months to plan, install and commission. TIS can deploy low-profile sites in three days to a week – barring serious complications.
With low-profile sites, network capacity can be bulked up to meet the more strenuous demands of urban peak periods, giving subscribers a far better user experience and enhancing the mobile networks brand value.
Tellumat offers full turnkey delivery of the low-profile site kit together with implementation services, in addition to their significant radio frequency equipment manufacturing, implementation and testing experience.
