Could new technology signal the end of masts and base stations?
1 min read
A network technology group is developing a new system which it claims could end the mobile industry's reliance on masts and base stations. Alcatel-Lucent has teamed up with industry partners to develop lightRadio in a bid to address the potential global gridlock in mobile communications.
According to the company, lightRadio represents a new approach where the base station, typically located at the base of each cell site tower, is broken into its components elements and then distributed into both the antenna and throughout a cloud like network.
It has been designed to shrink the current number of antennas serving 2G, 3G, and lte systems into a single powerful, Bell Labs pioneered antenna that can be mounted on poles, sides of buildings or anywhere else there is power and a broadband connection. By using microwave to connect back to the network, the technology is designed to enable broadband coverage virtually anywhere there is power – such as electricity, sun and wind. Alcatel-Lucent claims the lightRadio reduces energy consumption of mobile networks by up to 50%.
The innovation is expected to be welcomed by Governments and regulatory bodies which could help meet targets for universal broadband access by laying the foundation to address the 'digital divide'.
Ben Verwaayen, chief executive officer of Alcatel-Lucent, said: "Today's and tomorrow's demands for coverage and capacity require a breakthrough in mobile communications. lightRadio will signal the end of the basestation and the cell tower as we know it today."
