SMALL CELL

REPORTER: GROUP 2
What is a cell?
 in mobile networks it is a coverage area that is created by the
radiations of a cell tower or base station.

What is base station?

 a base station is these tall masts that you see on
the roads highways.
What is a Small Cell?

 Small cell technology refers to a type of wireless communication

infrastructure that is designed to enhance network capacity and coverage in
areas with high user density or limited space. It involves the deployment of
small, low-powered cellular base stations called “small cells” to supplement
the existing network.
Example of a Small Cell Technology
 Small Cell is a mini base station requiring very low power and it acts like a
RELAY team member to forward signal.

 Each base station will receive signals from other base station and may
forward data to users.

Do the small cell penetrate into plants and buildings?

 Small cells can penetrate into plants and buildings, but their ability to do so
depends on several factors, including the construction materials of the
building, the frequency band being used, and the specific characteristics of
the small cell deployment.
What is Small Cell Technology Used For?

 Small cell technology is used for several purposes to enhance wireless communication
networks. Here are some common applications:
 Improved Coverage and Capacity: Small cells are deployed in areas with high user
density or where macro cell towers have limited coverage. They help fill coverage gaps,
extend signal range, and provide better service quality, especially in indoor environments.
By offloading traffic from macro cells, small cells increase the overall network capacity and
improve data speeds for users.
 Dense Urban Areas: In densely populated urban areas, small cells are used to handle the
high demand for wireless connectivity. They can be deployed on streetlights, utility poles, or
buildings to provide localized coverage, especially in areas with tall buildings that can
obstruct signals from macro cells.
 Indoor Environments: Small cells are commonly deployed in indoor spaces like shopping
malls, airports, stadiums, office buildings, and convention centres. These areas often
experience heavy user traffic and face challenges in providing reliable coverage. Small cells
improve signal strength, capacity, and data speeds within buildings, enhancing the user
experience.
 Rural and Remote Areas: Small cells can be deployed in rural or remote areas where
traditional macro cell coverage is limited. These deployments help extend wireless coverage
to underserved areas, bridging the digital divide and providing connectivity to communities
that would otherwise have limited access to mobile services.
 Private Networks: Small cells are increasingly used in private network deployments, such
as enterprise campuses, industrial facilities, and smart cities. These networks enable
dedicated coverage and capacity for specific organizations, ensuring secure and reliable
communication for their operations.
 5G Network Deployment: With the advent of 5G technology, small cells play a crucial role
in supporting the higher frequency bands and denser network architectures required for 5G
deployments. Small cells help deliver the high data rates and low latency promised by 5G by
bringing the network closer to users and enabling more efficient use of the available
spectrum.
What Types of Small Cells Are There?

 There are several types of small cells, each designed to cater to specific deployment
scenarios and requirements. Typically, a small cell is classified as smaller than the macro
cell.
What is a Microcell?
 Micro cells have a smaller coverage area than macro cells, typically ranging from a few
kilometres to a few dozen kilometres. They are often deployed in outdoor urban areas where
macro cell towers have limited coverage, such as city centres or residential neighbourhoods
with high user density. Micro cells help enhance coverage and capacity in these areas by
providing localized cellular service.

What are Pico cells?

 Pico cells are small cells with a smaller coverage area compared to micro cells, typically
ranging from a few hundred meters to a few kilometres. They are deployed in both outdoor
and indoor environments such as shopping malls, airports, or office buildings.
What are Femto cells?

 Femto cells are small, low-power base stations designed mainly for indoor use in residential
or small business environments. They connect to the user’s broadband internet connection
and provide localized cellular coverage within a limited range, typically up to a few hundred
meters. Femto cells are typically deployed by end-users themselves and are used to enhance
indoor coverage and improve signal strength for personal devices.
Why is Small Cell Technology Important for 5G?

Small cell technology is crucial for 5G networks due to several reasons:

 Increased Capacity: 5G networks offer significantly higher data speeds and lower latency
compared to previous generations. To achieve these performance goals, 5G relies on
utilizing higher frequency bands, which have shorter propagation ranges. Small cells, with
their localized coverage and lower transmit power, are ideal for deploying in densely
populated areas to handle the increased capacity demands of 5G.

 Denser Network Architecture: 5G networks require a denser deployment of base stations

to support the increased number of connected devices and deliver higher data rates. Small
cells enable service providers to deploy a large number of low-power base stations in a
concentrated area, providing a more granular network architecture. This densification
enhances coverage, capacity, and overall network performance.
 Millimetre Wave Technology: 5G networks utilize mmWave (Millimetre Wave) frequency
bands, which offer extremely high data rates but have limited propagation characteristics.
These signals are easily attenuated by obstacles such as buildings and foliage. Small cells
are essential for mmWave deployments as they help compensate for the shorter range and
penetration limitations by bringing the signal closer to the user.

 Improved Indoor Coverage: 5G aims to provide reliable connectivity not only in outdoor
environments but also indoors. Small cells are well-suited for indoor deployments, as they
can be easily installed in buildings to enhance coverage, capacity, and data speeds. This is
particularly important for applications like smart homes, smart offices, and industrial
automation, which heavily rely on robust indoor connectivity.
 Network Slicing and Edge Computing: 5G introduces the concept of network slicing,
which allows network resources to be allocated on-demand to specific use cases or services.
Small cells enable localized network slicing, providing dedicated resources and customized
connectivity for specific applications in a specific area. Additionally, small cells can support
edge computing capabilities, bringing computing resources closer to the users and reducing
latency for real-time applications.

 Seamless Mobility and Handovers: Small cells, when integrated with the macro cellular
network, enable seamless mobility and handovers as users move between different coverage
areas. This ensures uninterrupted connectivity and consistent service quality for 5G devices,
which are designed to support high-speed mobility.
How do Small Cells Work?
Small cells work by deploying low-power cellular base stations in strategic locations to provide
localized coverage and enhance network capacity. Here’s a general overview of how small cells
work:

 Deployment and Installation: Small cells are typically installed in areas with high user
density or where coverage is limited, such as urban areas, indoor environments, or rural
locations. They can be mounted on streetlights, utility poles, rooftops, or other structures.
The small cell deployment involves selecting suitable locations, acquiring necessary permits,
and connecting the small cells to the core network.

 Radio Frequency Communication: Small cells communicate with user devices, such as
smartphones or IoT devices, using RF (Radio Frequency) signals. They transmit and receive
wireless signals over specific frequency bands allocated for cellular communication (e.g.,
3G, 4G LTE, or 5G bands).
 Localized Coverage: Small cells provide localized coverage within their specific range, which
is typically smaller than that of macro cell towers. The coverage area of a small cell can vary
depending on factors such as transmit power, antenna configuration, frequency bands used, and
environmental conditions.

 Network Coordination: Small cells are usually deployed in a network of interconnected

nodes, managed by a centralized controller or base station. This controller coordinates the
distribution of network resources and ensures seamless handovers between small cells and the
macro cellular network. It optimizes resource allocation and manages interference between
neighbouring small cells to maximize overall network performance.

 Backhaul Connection: Small cells require a backhaul connection to connect to the core
network and enable communication with the wider cellular infrastructure. The backhaul
connection carries data traffic between the small cell and the core network, typically using
wired connections like fibre optic cables or wireless links like microwave or millimetre-wave
links.
 Integration with Macro Cells: Small cells are designed to work in conjunction with macro
cell towers. When a user moves from the coverage area of one small cell to another, or from
a small cell to a macro cell, the network ensures seamless handovers to maintain the
connection without interruption. This coordination between small cells and macro cells is
crucial for delivering consistent coverage and quality of service across the network.
 Network Management and Optimization: The small cells are managed and optimized to
ensure efficient utilization of network resources. Service providers monitor the small cells,
collect data on network performance, and make adjustments as needed to optimize coverage,
capacity, and quality of service.