Attempt to utilize 'lid of manhole' as relay antenna of communication network

by Aaron Lau

Although the 4 th generation mobile communication system (4 G) is the mainstream as a wireless communication system for cellular phones and other devices as of 2018, it is said that it becomes possible to use 100 times faster communication than the 5 th generation It is a mobile communication system (5G). In Japan, major carrier companies such as NTT docomo · au · SoftBank are pursuing research and development aiming for commercialization in 2020. Attempts to replace the relay antenna which is indispensable for this 5 G spreading by manhole lid attention It collects.

Vodafone manhole covers to improve mobile coverage
https://mediacentre.vodafone.co.uk/news/vodafone-lifts-lid-on-manhole-covers-to-improve-mobile-coverage /

Manhole Covers Serve as Antennas Expanding Wireless Network Coverage - IEEE Spectrum
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/wireless/mannhole-covers-serve-as-antennas-expanding-network-coverage

Since 5G is a wireless communication using a high frequency band and it is planned to use a millimeter wave spectrum of 30 GHz or more, since the rectilinearity of the radio wave is higher than the ultra high frequency wave, "the radio wave reaches the shadow of the base station or the building It will be less difficult ".

To overcome this problem, there is a strategy to use small cells with large MIMO antennas . The small cell is a base station with low output and coverage used to complement the normal antenna base station.

However, it is expected that it will take a considerable amount of time, as it is estimated that small cells for 5G will reach 2024 until the existing 4G coverage level is reached. In addition, it is said that the number of small cells supporting 5G will reach 13.1 million stations by 2025, but this number seems to be only about one-third of existing small cells being used As base stations and small cells increase at pace, especially in urban areas where many base stations are located, it becomes full of antennas.

In fact, as many small cells and base stations have already been installed everywhere, there is also the problem that there are few places to install new small cells.

by Hasan Iqbal

Meanwhile, an engineer of a major telecommunication carrier, Vodafone, headquartered in the United Kingdom, proposes a creative idea to utilize "the lid of a manhole" as "an antenna of a lid and a mobile communication system". This idea can also be a solution to the indication that the proliferating base station is causing the urban landscape and traffic disturbance.

The idea of installing a base station in the lid of a manhole is utilized for small cells, etc. for some 4G networks even at the time of article creation. Engineers at Vodafone believe that it can be applied to future 5G networks, said James Grayling, senior network deployment manager for the company, "Manhole offers solutions in a compact urban environment He gave me the opportunity. "

In addition, Vodafone spokesperson said the possibility that the base station using the manhole lid is used as part of the 5G network is enough, according to the press release the connectivity of communication using manhole antenna It is pretty reliable thing. However, Vodafone spokeswoman did not affirm whether manhole antenna would be part of Vodafone's 5G strategy.

Likewise, Ally Stevens, Vodafone's Network Media Relations Manager, said, "I believe it is possible to use a manhole cover solution for the introduction of the 5G network, but it is still officially I have not decided. "

Still, Mr. Grayling reveals some impressive features of the antenna utilizing the lid of manhole. According to Mr. Grayling, "The manhole antenna currently in use has a frequency band of about 1695 to 2690 MHz, and when used at 4 G, download speed of up to 195 Mbps will come out."

According to Mr. Grayling, when installing an antenna in a manhole, this does not interfere with the signal of the mobile phone, but it says there is a possibility of causing power loss due to manhole. In addition, it is unclear at what point the Vodafone manhole antenna will be installed at the time of article creation, Mr. Graying said, "We have fixed network assets that are optimal for meeting the needs of the mobile network It is in the stage of identifying "only.

by Shounen 21