5G Small Cell Basics: Types, Advantages, and Manufacturers

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This page provides a comprehensive overview of 5G small cells, covering their types, advantages, and popular manufacturers.

Introduction

Traditional cellular networks rely on high-power base stations (NodeBs or NBs) to cover extensive areas and serve a large number of users. However, 5G utilizes higher frequencies, including millimeter waves, which are susceptible to signal blockage by obstacles. This can result in mobile users experiencing poor or no 5G signal reception when indoors or behind obstructions.

Small cells are designed to address this signal blocking issue.

What are 5G Small Cells?

Network of 5G small cells

5G small cells are essentially low-power, miniature base stations strategically deployed across a target region. These function as low-power wireless access points (APs) operating within licensed spectrum and are managed by telecom operators.

Their compact size allows for easy installation in indoor environments and areas with limited space. Consequently, they enhance cellular coverage and effectively fill coverage gaps. By being distributed throughout the service area, small cells ensure consistent signal quality.

Small cells receive the 5G signal from the main NB and relay it to users. When a user moves behind an obstacle, their cell phone automatically switches to the nearest small cell, maintaining a seamless connection. This ensures uninterrupted 5G network coverage for users.

The image above depicts a typical 5G network setup, featuring both small cells and the main 5G NB (or 5G Base Station).

5G Small Cell Types

The following table outlines different types of 5G small cells and their respective features, including deployment scenarios, supported user capacity, power range, and coverage distance.

5G Small Cell TypeDeploymentNumber of Concurrent UsersPower RangeDistance Coverage
Femto cellPrimarily used in residences and enterprises4 to 8 (residence)10 to 100 mW (Indoor)10s of meters
16 to 32 (enterprise)0.2 to 1 Watt (Outdoor)
Pico cellPublic areas such as indoors, outdoors, airports, malls, train stations64 to 128100 to 250 mW (Indoor)10s of meters
1 to 5 Watt (Outdoor)
Micro cellUrban areas to fill macro coverage gaps128 to 2565 to 10 Watt (Outdoor)Few 100s of meters
Metro cellUrban areas to provide additional capacity> 25010 to 20 Watt (Outdoor)100s of meters
WiFiResidences, offices, enterprises< 5020 to 100 mW (Indoor)Few 10s of meters
0.2 to 1 Watt (Outdoor)

Advantages of 5G Small Cells

Here are the key benefits of using 5G small cells:

  • Improved Coverage: Enhances signal coverage in areas with weak or blocked signals, providing better service indoors and outdoors behind obstacles.
  • Increased User Capacity: Supports a larger number of users on the 5G cellular network.
  • Faster Data Services: Offers faster data speeds due to lower latency, as small cells are closer to users.
  • Lower Power Consumption: Operates at low power, resulting in reduced energy consumption.
  • Easy Installation: Small size makes them easy to install and manage.
  • Cellular Traffic Offloading: Helps in offloading cellular traffic to efficiently serve users with higher signal quality.

5G Small Cells Manufacturers

Here’s a list of some prominent manufacturers of 5G small cells:

  • Ericsson: Offers Radio Dot, a palm-sized small base station for indoor coverage. The RBS 6402 is a pico cell supporting WCDMA, LTE, and WiFi.
  • Qualcomm: Collaborating with ITRI to develop 5G NR small cell products.
  • Nokia: Provides a wide range of products for the small cell market catering to 4G and 5G technology-based networks.
  • Commscope: Offers small cell solutions for indoor coverage in small and large offices for LTE networks.
  • Qorvo: Supplies products based on various small cell types to facilitate the smooth transition of pre-5G/LTE-A Pro networks.
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