Tiny cube-shaped mobile mast 'to deliver rural broadband'

[DorsetBoy]

An innovative new mobile network technology will banish ugly mobile masts and help deliver rural broadband, its makers claim.

By Christopher Williams, Technology Correspondent 7:00AM GMT 08 Feb 2011 Daily Telegraph



The system, dubbed "lightRadio", shrinks and simplifies the electronics in mobile network base stations to slash costs and energy consumption by around half, said Alcatel-Lucent, the French networking giant.

It offers connectivity to 2G, 3G and forthcoming 4G data networks via tiny cube-shaped antennae that fit in the palm of a hand and can be installed wherever there is power. The cubes do not have the range of a traditional mobile mast, but they are cheaper and less obtrusive, so can be installed in groups to offer the same or better coverage.

Meanwhile the most demanding computing functions of a traditional mobile base station - handled by the "baseband" unit - are removed to a single microchip that can be located anywhere within the network. Centralising such processing will cut maintenance costs dramatically.

Major mobile operators including Orange, China Mobile and Verizon Wireless are now planning trials of lightRadio, to begin later this year.......... (more)

[Rik]

Interesting. I can't help but wonder how efficient the system will be.

[DorsetBoy]

Interesting. I can't help but wonder how efficient the system will be.

Given the operators wanting to trial it it must have a lot going for it, for one thing it will get round all the planning issues with towers.

[Rik]

Time will tell.