Andrew Solutions has released the SmartBeam base station antenna system, a network solution that makes adding capacity and optimising coverage cost-effective and responsive to customer demands.
The antenna helps wireless operators to achieve load balancing across a cell site or even a whole network cluster of cell sites. The antenna's network capacity and performance improvement capabilities enable operators to get the most out of their 3G, LTE, and WiMAX networks. The antenna's beam fanning technology frees network planners from the limited choices they have in sectorisation.
The antenna offers three levels of base station antenna pattern adjustments that include beam tilting, panning, and fanning, which can be conducted from a central office through the company's Antenna Network Management System. When used in combination, the three pattern adjustments enable wireless operators to easily re-distribute capacity across a network cluster of sites based on changing traffic patterns. The result is a significant improvement in capacity efficiency while delaying or preventing the expensive addition of new cell sites or radios. An agile system combined with the new antenna can also enhance network quality by providing the capability to deliver strong signal strength, minimised interference, reduced number of dropped calls, and high data rates.
The antenna works by utilising Next Generation Actuators installed under the antenna radome, which enable the three pattern adjustments. Remote electrical tilt BSAs currently deployed in several wireless networks perform vertical beam tilting. The antenna from Andrew Solutions adds horizontal panning and beamwidth fanning that make the next generation of network optimisation capabilities possible. Beamwidth fanning can result in antenna patterns narrowed or broadened from 35 to 105°.
