White paper

Twin beam technology adds immediate capacity

without additional antennas
Philip Sorrells, V.P. strategic marketing – wireless
May 15, 2013

www.commscope.com 1
 Contents
Are snowballing capacity issues creating the perfect storm? 3
The quest for more capacity 3
Revisiting sectorization 3
Capacity performance makes six-sector attractive… in theory 4
The cost of better performance 4
Twin beam technology makes six-sector implementation cost-effective and practical 5
Increasing capacity through pattern performance, signal strength and noise reduction 5
Reduced loading at the top of the tower 6
Success story: twin beam turns antenna competition into a solutions showcase 6
Improvements across the board 6
Making the complex simple 7
The bottom line is higher quality of service 8
References 8

www.commscope.com 2
Are snowballing capacity issues creating
the perfect storm?
Today’s mobile subscribers have a voracious appetite for data. In 2012,
the volume of global mobile data traffic grew 70 percent, reaching
885 petabytes per month1. The growth is due to multiple factors. The
number of smartphones continues to increase, as does the amount of
data they consume. According to recent industry reports, 31 percent
of all Internet users rely exclusively on their mobile device for Internet
connectivity. The average amount of traffic per smartphone in 2012
was 342 MB per month, up from 189 MB per month in 2011—an
81 percent rise1.
The deployment of 4G networks is also on the rise. At the end of
2012, there were 144 4G networks worldwide. By the end of 2013,
the number will swell to an estimated 2302. In some cases, wireless
service providers (WSPs) are bypassing 3G altogether, opting to layer
4G directly onto their current 2G systems.
The rapid adoption of 4G is placing further strain on capacity-strapped
networks. In 2012, a fourth-generation connection generated 19 times
more traffic on average than a non-4G connection1. Although 4G
connections represent only 0.9 percent of mobile connections today,
they already account for 14 percent of mobile data traffic1.
The capacity crunch has become so critical that, as USA Today
reported, “Even as they build the next generation of faster wireless
networks, carriers are discouraging heavy data users by eliminating
unlimited data plans and enforcing monthly caps.”
“Even as they build the next generation of faster wireless
networks… carriers are discouraging heavy data users by
eliminating unlimited data plans and enforcing monthly caps.”
Wireless carriers seek to ‘offload’ customers, Roger Yu, USA Today,
5/23/2012
The quest for more capacity
In the quest for more capacity, WSPs are exploring a number of
strategies—some old and some new. Among the more traditional
are cell densification and the purchase of additional spectrum. Both
strategies, however, present significant cost issues.
In the case of cell densification, adding new cells, the process of site
acquisition and zoning approval can take up to two years, resulting in
lost revenue for the WSP. Once approved, a new site can cost more
than a quarter million dollars to build and commission.
Adding more spectrum, assuming it is available, can easily run into
the billions of dollars. In January 2013, AT&T announced a deal to pay
Verizon Wireless $1.9 billion for spectrum in the 700 MHz band in
18 U.S. states3.
More recently, WSPs have experimented with offloading traffic
to ancillary networks such as localized Wi-Fi hot spots. This, too,
is problematic. Creating a secure tunnel for the hand-off typically
requires a connection manager client running Internet Protocol
www.commscope.com
Security (IPSec) suite. The application must be downloaded and
installed by the user and runs in the background where it can
significantly affect the battery life of the device4.
Small cell deployment is also being touted as an excellent way to add
network capacity. According to Joe Madden, principal strategist with
Mobile Experts LLC., more than five million carrier-grade small cells
are expected to ship in 20175. But that does little to satisfy WSP’s
immediate need for more capacity.
Increasing capacity
According to Shannon’s Law, increasing capacity in a given channel
bandwidth requires WSPs to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and/or
increase frequency reuse.
Reducing noise
In 3G and 4G LTE networks, noise containment in the RF path is
critical. External noise from a variety of sources—including multi-
path reflection, environmental noise and interference from adjacent
or nearby cells—can significantly decrease receiver sensitivity at the
base station. As noise within the sector increases, mobiles increase
their signal power levels, creating more uplink interference. Noise
within the RF path is also problematic, with thermal noise and passive
intermodulation (PIM) being the major culprits.
Increasing frequency reuse
Another strategy for growing capacity is to increase opportunities for
frequency reuse through higher order sectorization.
“… more than five million carrier-grade small cells are expected
to ship in 20175. But that still leaves WSPs wondering how to
resolve their immediate capacity issues now.”
Revisiting sectorization
In the last 50 years, wireless capacity has increased by a factor
of about 1,000,0006. This growth has come from better spectral
efficiency, more spectrum and more cells/sectors. Since the 1990s,
one of the most popular and effective strategies for increasing site
and network capacity has been sectorization. Figure 1 illustrates that
sectorization and cell densification have accounted for the majority
of additional capacity over the last fifty years.
The first sectorized systems replaced standard 360-degree omni-
directional antennas with three separate directional antennas.
The most commonly deployed configuration uses three antennas,
each with a nominal azimuth beamwidth of 65-degrees. While the
antennas within a sectorized cell share a common base transceiver
station (BTS), each is managed and operated independently with its
own power level, frequencies and channels.
3
The use of three directional sector antennas versus one omni- 65° Sectors
directional antenna substantially reduces co-channel cell interference -20
-10 0 10
20
and triples the opportunity for frequency reuse. As a result, WSPs -40
-30 30
40
realize significant gains in capacity. -50 50

-60 60

10,000 -70 70

2,000 -80 80

1,000 -90 90
Growth factor

-100 100
100
-110 110

20 25 -120 120
10 -130 130
-140 140
-150 150
1 -160
-170 180 170
160

Spectral efficiency Spectrum Number of cells/sectors

33° Sectors
Figure 1: Smart Cells and Wireless Capacity Growth, Agilent Technologies, LTE
World Summit, May 26, 2010 -20
-10 0 10
20 -110
-100 -90
-30 0 30 -120 0
-40 -5 40 -130 -5

Capacity performance makes six-sector -50 -10

-15
50 -140 -10
-15
-60 60 -150

attractive…in theory -70

-20
-25
70 -160
-20
-25
-80 -30 80 -170 -30
Several years ago, WSPs began to experiment with higher order -35 -35
-90 90 180
-40 -40
sectorization, splitting traditional three-sector sites into six. The initial
-100 100 170
purpose was to generate additional capacity in hot spots and spectrum-
-110 110 160
limited markets. A six-sector site application splits each of the original
-120 120 150
65-degree coverage areas into two sectors, each served by a separate -130 130 140
narrowbeam antenna with a nominal azimuth beamwidth of 33 to 38 -140 140 130

degrees. Properly done, higher order sectorization reduces the overlap -150
-160 160
150 120
110
-170 180 170 100 90
interference, pilot pollution and soft hand-off areas—all of which
contribute to more efficient spectrum reuse. Figure 2

In six-sector deployments, with rapid pattern roll-off and good The cost of better performance
(0) HBX-3319DS-VTM_00DT_1920
(1) HBX-3319DS-VTM_00DT_1920
sidelobe and backlobe suppression, WSPs typically increase capacity (2) HBX-3319DS-VTM_00DT_1920
by 70–80 percent7. Because each antenna is controlled separately, Traditionally, cell splitting into six sectors has been limited due to
(3) HBX-3319DS-VTM_00DT_1920
(4) HBX-3319DS-VTM_00DT_1920
it provides tighter frequency and radiation control when it comes to the requirement to change from one 65-degree antenna to two
(5) HBX-3319DS-VTM_00DT_1920

customizing the footprint of the cell site.
At the same time, six-sector antennas enable WSPs to take advantage
of today’s more sophisticated modulation schemes. Crossover points
between sectors typically occur at approximately –9dB, making them
good candidates for use with 3G UMTS and CDMA networks, as well
as 4G LTE systems.
individual narrower beam antennas. The capacity and performance
enhancements gained by implementing higher order sectorization
are often undermined by the real cost of implementation. By
definition, transitioning from a three- to a six-sector design doubles
the number of antennas that must be purchased and increases
many of the associated costs, including packaging, transportation
and installation.

Higher order sectorization also enables WSPs to add capacity without
adding sites. This is especially important in high-density areas such
as urban and suburban locations where WSPs can respond quickly
to changes in subscriber demographics by simply upgrading existing
sites from three- to six-sectors.
Figure 2 illustrates the significant reduction of inter-sector overlap
in switching from a 65-degree to a 33-degree antenna. Reducing
the overlap decreases the soft handoff area and provides additional
capacity gains.
According to a CDMA Development Group study, six-
sector sites can improve voice capacity 70% to 100% and
can increase data throughput 50% to 70% above current
network baselines.
While the number of antennas required doubles, the net structural
impact on the tower is even higher. This is because, in order to
generate a narrower beamwidth, a 33-degree antenna must be
physically larger than a 65-degree antenna. In many cases, the
surface area of the six-sector solution is more than double that of
the three-sector solution. The larger surface area creates significantly
more wind loading. If mount arms are used to move the antenna
away from the tower, torque loads on the tower increase accordingly.
Larger antennas also add more weight to the top of the tower,
which is becoming increasingly crowded with other RF components
such as filters, tower mounted amplifiers, multi-band combiners,
and remote radio heads. Nowadays, many tower manufacturers are
switching to lighter materials in order to save on manufacturing
and customer shipping costs. As a result, the heavily loaded, lighter
towers are far more susceptible to increased twist and sway, which

www.commscope.com 4
can cause links to sporadically fail. In addition, tougher industry on the elevation as well as the azimuth plane. The circuit power
standards for tower loading, like ANSI/TIA-222 Rev G, impose dividers are standard off-the-shelf, solid-state 3 dB hybrid couplers.
additional limitations on the tower’s structural capacity.
Applications for the twin beam include single and multi-band for
With six antennas instead of three, there is also increased potential GSM, 3G and LTE. High-band, low-band and dual-band models
for boresite alignment errors during installation. The industry has support all major mobile technologies in the 698–894 MHz, 824–
benefitted from recently introduced installation aides such as GPS 960 MHz and 1710–2170 MHz bands, as well as 2 x 2 multiple-in
assistance. Many installers, however, continue to align antennas using multiple-out (MIMO) technology.
little more than a compass, visible landmarks or even hand-drawn
lines on the pavement below. In a UMTS network, the antenna’s
performance sensitivity to azimuth and tilt error increases as
beamwidth is reduced8.

When it comes to deploying a new site, zoning approval, especially

in suburban neighborhoods, is more difficult to obtain with a six-
sector site as well. In 2009, the FCC passed a regulation designed
to shorten the time between the filing of the WSP zoning request
and the decision by the municipality — 90 days for a co-located
site or 150 days for all other applications. But the “shot clock”, as
the law is known, has done little to speed the process. For WSPs
looking to deploy larger, more visible six-sector solutions, obtaining
the necessary approvals can take eight months or more.

For these reasons, the six-sector site design, despite its ability to
Figure 3
increase capacity and throughput, has not gained much traction in
the market.
Increasing capacity through pattern
Recently, however, CommScope engineers have perfected performance, signal strength and
a “sector-sculpting” multi-beam design that alters the cost/
noise reduction
benefit playing field for six-sector deployment.
Figure 4 illustrates the radiation pattern of a traditional 65-degree
Twin beam technology makes six-sector antenna, and the two narrow beams generated by the twin beam
antenna. Important characteristics to note include the difference in
implementation cost-effective and practical sector overlap between the beams and the consistent position of the
null fill at approximately–9 dB.
Recently, however, CommScope engineers have perfected a “sector-
sculpting” multi-beam antenna that alters the cost/benefit playing Three-sector 65° Twin beam 38°
field for six-sector deployment. Introduced by CommScope in 2013,
sector sculpting enables WSPs to create a six-sector solution—with
all the expected capacity and pattern benefits—using just three twin
beam antennas.

By enabling WSPs to achieve higher-order sectorization without

additional antennas, the technology effectively removes the major cost
and time barriers associated with six-sector deployment and provides a
capacity-generating solution that WSPs can deploy immediately.

The twin beam design provides a theoretical doubling of sector

capacity. Each antenna produces two separate narrow azimuth beams
whose positions are directed at +30-degrees and –30-degrees of the
antenna’s boresite. In extended trials, WSPs are realizing an estimated
80-percent gain in capacity, while reducing their antenna count by
half and significantly cutting CapEx and OpEx spending.
The architecture of the sector-sculpting twin beam antenna, shown in
figure 3, uses a Butler matrix to split the input power and feed each
of the four independently controlled column arrays. Dielectrically
loaded elements on the phase shifters, created by CommScope
during the development of the company’s patented remote electrical
tilt (RET), enable WSPs to control phase shifting
Figure 4
Figure 5 shows the pattern of a single 65-degree antenna, in
red, overlaid on the patterns created by a twin beam antenna. As
indicated by the patterns, the two narrow beams produced by the
twin beam antenna exhibit wider coverage at the sector edges,
more rapid pattern roll-off, and improved front-to-back ratio. This
also enables providers of spectrum-limited GSM systems to employ
a more aggressive back-to-back reuse of their broadcast control
channel (BCCH).

www.commscope.com 5

Figure 5
Of particular note is the approximate 2–3 dB of increased gain at
the boresite generated by the twin beam compared to the 65-degree
antenna. For WSPs using advanced modulation schemes such as
high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and LTE, the increased
gain extends 16 and 64 QAM capacity further toward the sector
edge. The improved throughput yields higher quality of service for
the customer. It also enables mobile devices to operate on less
power, further reducing interference levels.
The sector overlap, critical for increasing capacity, remains constant
with the twin beam. Both beams are generated from the same
radome and precisely engineered to maintain consistent overlap and
null fill. In a traditional three-sector or six-sector site, each antenna
must be accurately aligned in order to achieve overlap consistency.
As previously noted, alignment issues due to human error are
common in deploying any sectorized antenna solution.
PIM is also of particular concern in 3G and 4G LTE networks where
noise suppression is critical in order to reduce mobile power levels
and associated uplink interference. It is important to remember that
PIM is a systems issue; two or more passive components are required
in order to create the disruptive intermodulation. Therefore, PIM
must be controlled throughout the entire RF path.
In the twin beam antenna system, CommScope achieves this
through a rigorous and proactive manufacturing program that
includes extensive PIM testing on every component, including
the antenna. The program also provides PIM training and
certification for customer and third-party installers.
The ability of the twin beam sector-sculpting solution to effectively
reduce PIM long term also speaks to the importance of viewing the
antenna as an entire RF system, including cabling, connectors and
any other passive components such as combiners and filters.
Reduced loading at the top of the tower
A single twin beam antenna has the same approximate physical
dimensions as a single 33-degree antenna, for a given frequency
range. At the top of the tower, the weight and wind loading are
essentially the same as well.
For capacity-strained sites, WSPs can simply replace the three
existing 65-degree antennas with three twin beam antennas and
www.commscope.com
immediately realize dramatically improved capacity — on the order of
70 to 80-percent. Because the antenna count remains the same, no
new lease requirements or lengthy zoning approvals are required.
Success story: twin beam turns antenna
competition into a solutions showcase
In late 2011, a major U.S. carrier was looking to add capacity within
its core network in a key metro market. Coverage was being provided
by a cluster of high-profile, three-sector urban sites operating in the
850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. Nearly all of the sites were reaching
their UMTS capacity limits.
To generate added capacity at critical sites, the carrier was evaluating
a variety of sector-splitting solutions that would affect one sector at
each site. The specific market represents a high-revenue opportunity
for the carrier, so time to market was also a key concern.
CommScope was one of three RF solutions providers asked to
participate in the process. Working with its design simulation partner,
Telecom Technology Services, Inc. (TTS), CommScope began by
analyzing the carrier’s traffic patterns and capacity requirements.
This involved simulating network loads and conducting pre-
implementation drive testing, not just at the cell level, but at the
cluster level as well.
Based on their preliminary assessment, CommScope and TTS
developed a robust strategy featuring the twin beam six-sector
antenna solution. Beyond the advanced sector-splitting technology,
CommScope was also able to provide the necessary RF path
components, engineering design and project management for a
turnkey solution.
“The selection process started out as an antenna-only comparison,
but the ability to deliver a turnkey capacity solution within the
customer’s timeframe and budget soon became a key driver,” said
Mike Wolfe, CommScope regional sales manager.
Improvements across the board
TTS ran simulations for the targeted sites in order to quantify
the expected gains when switching from the existing traditional
three-sector configuration to the six-sector twin beam. Simulations
modeled 3G UMTS and 4G LTE environments.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the results of two UMTS simulations: Cell
A, operating in the 1900 MHz frequency and Cell B, operating in the
850 MHz frequency. Figure 6 indicates the ability of the twin beam
antenna to reduce the soft hand-off areas within a given sector.
Once the percentage of soft hand-off areas between the left and
right beams are averaged, the total sector shows a 3.69% decrease
in sector overlap.
“Once we were able to show how we could help improve
performance across the entire system, the process became
less of an antenna comparison and more about who could
provide the best turnkey solution.”
6
 Existing Split sector Reduction in soft TTS also simulated the effect of the twin beam on pilot pollution,
sector twin beam hand-off area a key contributor of interference. As shown in figure 9, the results
indicated a significant improvement in the ratio of pilot pollution
Cell A 40.29 (left beam)
1900 MHz 41.74 –3.69 removed (green) versus pilot pollution added (red).
35.81 (right beam)
Cell B 38.41 (left beam) Another key benefit to note is that, as capacity and throughput
850 MHz 47.1 –6.03 increased at each individual site, performance across the entire
43.73 (right beam)
cluster improved. This was due in part to the ability of the twin beam
Figure 6: Percentage of soft hand-off areas1 (within sector) antennas to clean up inter-sector interference and reduce noise levels.
As a result, the cell clusters showed improvements in the dropped call
1
The combined soft hand-off areas within a given sector, expressed as a
rate (DCR), received signal strength and system availability.
percentage of the sector’s total coverage area.
“Once we were able to show how we could help improve
Existing Split sector Aggregate performance across the entire system, the process became less of
sector twin beam change an antenna comparison and more about who could provide the best
Cell A 54.33 (left beam) turnkey solution,” Wolfe added.
1900 MHz 53.4 x2.44
76.11 (right beam) Right beam Number of bins before Number of bins after
4 160

Cell B 56.35 (left beam) 140

3.8
850 MHz 65.32 x1.93
69.52 (right beam) 120

Number of bins
3.6

Percent
100
3.4
Figure 7: Radio resource efficiency1 80
3.2
60
1
The percentage of a radio’s coverage area in which it is identified by 3
40
mobile devices as the primary or serving radio. 2.8 20
Number of pilot polluters

Figure 7 illustrates the expected gain in radio resource efficiency. Radio Left beam Number of bins before Number of bins after
resource efficiency is defined as the percentage of a radio’s coverage 4 160

area in which it is identified, by mobile devices within the coverage 3.8 140

area, as the primary or serving radio. When the existing sectors—cell A 120
Number of bins

3.6
and cell B—are split, the radio resources available to handle traffic more

Percent
100
than doubles in cell A and nearly doubles in cell B. 3.4
80
3.2
60
3
40

2.8 20
Number of pilot polluters

Figure 9
Peak user throughput (kbps)

Making the complex simple

Implementing a traditional six-sector solution involves greater
complexity, such as additional RF connections and the need for more
accurate antenna alignment. As an end-to-end provider who could
design, engineer, install and support a turnkey solution, CommScope
was able to simplify an otherwise complex process.

In addition to demonstrating the capacity gains from the twin beam

Connected users
Figure 8
The 4G LTE simulations indicated significant advantages in deploying
a twin beam six-sector solution in areas with high traffic loads.
Figure 8 shows that, in a twin beam versus traditional three-sector
deployment, the difference in peak user throughput increases as the
sector load increases. This is primarily due to the twin beam’s ability
to maintain a cleaner RF environment.
antennas, the CommScope team created a validation package that
included key performance indicator (KPI) reports and post-installation
drive testing in order to document the performance improvements.
To further improve system performance, they also recommended
modifications to cells outside the scope of the project and designed a
construction plan with the assigned installation company. The project
was backed by the company’s comprehensive RF path warranty.
In the end, the implementation was successful, not only on the
strength of the twin beam antenna, but also because of CommScope’s
ability to effectively address the project’s entire ecosystem. “It really
came down to close collaboration with the carrier to ensure their
technical, budgetary and scheduling goals were achieved,” Wolfe said.

www.commscope.com 7
The bottom line is higher quality of service References
Obviously, creating increased capacity and keeping ahead of the Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast
1

data tsunami are both means to a greater end: increasing quality of Update, 2012–2017, Cisco, Feb. 2013
service (QoS). In a July 2012 study by Comptel Corp.9, more than Global Mobile Broadband — The Fast Growth of LTE, Paul Budde
2

one in five respondents said they had experienced poor QoS, such Communication Pty Ltd, March 12, 2013
as dropped calls, low bandwidth or slow loading of files at least
AT&T to Buy Spectrum From Verizon for $1.9 Billion, Scott Moritz
3

once a week. Over two thirds said they felt “neglected” by their
and Todd Shields, Bloomberg, January 25, 2013
WSP. About 40 percent said they planned to switch WSPs within
the next 24 months as a result. Managing Wireless Network Capacity, FierceWireless, May 2012
4

Madden: Small cells will carry more capacity than macros, Joe
5

On the positive side, customers have consistently voiced a Madden, Fierce Broadband Wireless, March 27, 2013
willingness to pay more for better QoS. A recent Comptel survey
Smart Cells and Wireless Capacity Growth, Agilent Technologies,
6

indicated that, worldwide, sixty percent of respondents would pay

Moray Rumney, May 26, 2010
more for better and faster service. In the U.S., studies suggest that
customers would be willing to pay as much as $10 a month more CDMA Six Sector Cell Applications Handbook NBSS 7.0,
7

for more reliable connections, faster download speeds and a more Nortel, 1998
seamless user experience. The Impacts of Antenna Azimuth and Tilt Installation Accuracy
8

on UMTS Network Performance, Esmael Dinan, Ph.D., Aleksey A.

For WSPs, increasing the QoS means ramping up capacity — now. Kurochkin, Bechtel Telecommunications Technical Journal, Vol. 4, No.
Increasing capacity using traditional methods of cell densification and 1 January 2006
the addition of antennas is expensive and time consuming. The twin
Report: Want to Hold on to Subscribers? Show Them ‘More Love’,
9

beam sector-splitting solution is a fast and proven approach to quickly Andrew Burger, Telecompetitor.com, 2/22/12
add capacity at their most critical sites.

Twin beam enables WSPs to significantly increase capacity without

substantially increasing costs. At the same time, it can improve
throughput, allowing customers to take advantage of faster data
speeds throughout more of the network. The result is not only better,
faster and more consistent QoS, but lower churn and greater potential
for attracting new revenue from additional subscribers.

Ultimately, WSPs will succeed by continuing to increase their average

revenue per user (ARPU). Innovative strategies like CommScope’s
sector-sculpting twin beam should be an important part of the
solutions mix.

Everyone communicates. It’s the essence of the human experience. How we communicate is evolving. Technology is
reshaping the way we live, learn and thrive. The epicenter of this transformation is the network—our passion. Our experts
are rethinking the purpose, role and usage of networks to help our customers increase bandwidth, expand capacity,
enhance efficiency, speed deployment and simplify migration. From remote cell sites to massive sports arenas, from busy
airports to state-of-the-art data centers—we provide the essential expertise and vital infrastructure your business needs
to succeed. The world’s most advanced networks rely on CommScope connectivity.

commscope.com
Visit our website or contact your local CommScope representative for more information.

© 2017 CommScope, Inc. All rights reserved.

All trademarks identified by ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc. This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify or
supplement any specifications or warranties relating to CommScope products or services. CommScope is committed to the highest standards of business integrity and environmental sustainability,
with a number of CommScope’s facilities across the globe certified in accordance with international standards, including ISO 9001, TL 9000, and ISO 14001. Further information regarding
CommScope’s commitment can be found at www.commscope.com/About-Us/Corporate-Responsibility-and-Sustainability.
WP-106683.1-EN (05/17)