Telecom
Choosing the Optimal Base Station Antennas
Opinion by Bo Jonsson, and Torbjörn Kämpe
The choice of antennas for base stations rarely receives any attention. Antennas are regarded as a cheap commodity that will “do its job” regardless of which antenna you choose.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Antennas have a tremendous impact on coverage, performance, capacity and efficiency, and choosing the right ones can make or break a mobile operator’s ability to cope with the rapidly increasing demand for data.
Looking at the installed base, one could get the impression that the obvious, or even optimal, choice for almost all sites would be the traditional 18 dBi antenna.
This antenna has 65° of horizontal beamwidth and around 6.5° of vertical beam width, as do about 80 percent of all installations on 1,700 to 2,100 MHz.
The 15 dBi antenna is still quite common, especially on the lower frequencies, with a vertical beam width of around 14°.
There are also high gain 21 dBi antennas and new so-called ultra high-efficiency antennas using air as dielectric and virtually eliminating power losses.
These antennas improve base stations’ transmission capacity, resulting in higher signal strength, an increase in geographical area coverage, improved indoor penetration, increased traffic, improved data throughput and reduced production costs per call.
One newly launched multiband antenna (by Swedish manufacturer CellMax Technologies) offers 21 dBi radiated power on the high band with 4° of vertical beam.
18 dBi antenna is chosen for historical reasons, not with forethought
How much forethought is behind the choice of 18 dBi antennas? The decision to use this antenna comes down to historical reasons.
The 18 dBi antenna was the highest gain available from antenna vendors able to deliver antennas in mass quantities, and was such an obvious choice that it became almost a de facto standard and installed almost without a second thought.
This was of course not without reasons; it was a good compromise and has served us all very well.
But the 18 dBi antenna does not deliver the highest gain anymore – high gain ultra high-efficiency antennas do.
The 18 dBi antenna was also always questioned both for its narrow vertical beam width and also its horizontal beam width of “only” 65°.
With data surpassing voice in new 3G and 4G mobile networks, interference is different and so must the antennas be to stay effective.
Most sectors would benefit significantly from an antenna with higher gain and a sharper upper roll-off curve than the standard 18 dBi can offer.
The choice of antenna depends on the individual situation
So what is the optimum antenna for all installations? The answer to this question is: “there is no such thing as an optimum antenna for all installations!”
It always depends on the situation. If there is a tall building nearby, a small antenna with lower gain like 15 dBi would do a good job. At a rural site with maximum coverage as the most important objective, a 21 dBi antenna is clearly the best option.
At suburban sites the focus shifts towards capacity, suppression of interference and less on coverage. In can be seen that a high gain antenna will provide a 3.5 dB stronger signal level in the center of the cell, and suppress interference from next cell better than the 18 dBi antenna.
The 3.5 dB extra will improve in-building coverage and data transfer speed. Also, the lower interference will improve C/I and further improve performance.
A high carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) is the key parameter for efficiency, data rate and general success. So a high gain high efficiency antenna is again the best choice.
What about dense urban sites? After all, that is where most antennas are installed and the requirement is here to contain the signal within the cell while at the same time provide a very strong signal for good in-building penetration and high C/I for high speed data transfer.
Simulations and real-life tests show that there is a very sharp “cut off” at 650 meters from the high gain antenna at 6° tilt.
This will provide a significant reduction of interference and a magnificent control of soft handover load.
There is a remarkable difference between 5.5° and 6° which proves that antenna tilt is crucial to performance, and that antenna tilt setting is a precision job where a scale on a tilt bracket is far from accurate enough.
The high gain antenna still outperforms the 18 dBi antenna in dense urban sites and the sharper upper roll off is the main asset, actually even more important than the stronger signal level.
Going further in tilt it can be seen that the high gain antenna provides a stunning 5.5 dB stronger signal and even more in interference rejection from outside 450 meters.
That does wonders for soft handover overhead and data transfer speed. So again a clear win for the 21 dBi high gain antenna with very sharp upper roll off.
High gain, high efficiency the way to go
So in summary and if we generalize a bit, we can see that the 21 dBi antenna is a better choice in surprisingly many situations, for much the same reason as the 18 dBi antenna once replaced earlier antennas with lower gain.
They very often offer significant improvements to the traditional 18 dBi antennas. But they have a significantly more complex feeding network so the efficiency becomes a very important parameter.
After all, to extend and improve coverage requires more radiated radio frequency power, not less. So look not only for a high gain antenna, but also for a high efficiency antenna!
Bo Jonsson is senior Radio Frequency Expert, CellMax Technologies and Torbjörn Kämpe, is CEO, CellMax Technologies
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has dismissed claims of a telecommunications tariff hike allegedly set to take effect in January 2025.
The Commission described the reports as false and unfounded, urging subscribers to disregard the misinformation.
A senior NCC official, emphasised that the regulatory body operates under a transparent framework guided by the Nigerian Communications Act, according to Punch Newspaper.
According to the official, this framework requires stakeholder consultations and strict adherence to due process before any tariff adjustments are approved.
“These rumours are baseless and misleading. The NCC is committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that any potential tariff changes are communicated clearly and transparently,” the official stated.
“Subscribers can rest assured that no tariff increase has been approved,” he added.
The NCC also appealed to journalists and industry stakeholders to verify information before publication, stressing the importance of accurate reporting to avoid unnecessary public panic.
Reiterating its commitment to consumer interests and the stability of the telecommunications industry, the Commission assured Nigerians that updates on tariffs or related matters would always be communicated through official channels.
The Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) also addressed the rumours.
Speaking in Lagos, Mr Sina Bilesanmi, national president, ATCIS, stated that the association sought clarification directly from the NCC on December 24, 2024.
“The NCC confirmed there is no truth to claims of call charges increasing to N15.40 per minute from N11, SMS charges rising to N5.60, or 1GB of data costing N1,400 instead of N1,000.
“Any changes in tariffs, if necessary, will follow due process and involve input from all stakeholders, including ATCIS. There is no cause for alarm,” Bilesanmi said.
Both the NCC and ATCIS emphasised their commitment to consumer protection and urged subscribers to rely on verified information from credible sources.
Telecom
UnoTelos and Niral Networks Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Connectivity in Africa
UnoTelos, a leading telecommunications innovator in Nigeria, has announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership with Niral Networks, an advanced Private 5G and EDGE AI computing solutions provider from India.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in addressing connectivity challenges and driving digital transformation across Africa.
Transformative Connectivity Solutions
The partnership between UnoTelos and Niral Networks emerges from a shared vision to overcome critical network infrastructure limitations that have traditionally hindered technological progress in the region. By combining UnoTelos’ deep understanding of the African market with Niral Networks’ cutting-edge NiralOS 5G Core and Edge AI technology, the collaboration aims to deliver secure, low-latency, and scalable connectivity solutions.
“This partnership is more than a technological alliance—it’s about empowerment,” said Jude Egbokwu, Founder & CEO of UnoTelos. “We are not just solving connectivity problems; we’re creating opportunities for businesses to innovate, grow, and compete on a global stage.”
“Our collaboration with UnoTelos represents a pivotal moment in the digital transformation journey across Africa. By integrating Niral Networks’ advanced Private 5G and Edge AI technologies with UnoTelos’ profound system integration capabilities and market insights, we are not just deploying telecom infrastructure—we are engineering ecosystems for innovation. This partnership is strategically designed to address the continent’s most critical connectivity challenges, enabling industries from mining to oil & gas to leapfrog technological barriers and compete on a global scale,” said Abhijit Chaudhary, Founder & CEO of Niral Networks.
Strategic Focus and Initial Deployments
The initial partnership will concentrate on pilot projects across key strategic sectors, including:
- Mining
- Oil and Gas
- Manufacturing
- Shipping & Ports
- Aviation & Airports
- Logistics & Warehousing
The modular design of NiralOS Private 5G and Edge provides the flexibility to customize solutions that meet the unique requirements of each industry, ensuring efficient and targeted deployment.
Technological Innovation and Market Differentiation
By leveraging NiralOS Private 5G and Edge, UnoTelos is positioning itself at the forefront of telecommunications innovation. The partnership enables enterprises in Nigeria to access advanced connectivity solutions that were previously unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Key technological advantages include:
- Secure and reliable private network infrastructure
- Low-latency communication
- Scalable edge computing capabilities
- Tailored solutions for specific industry needs
Economic and Developmental Impact
The partnership is expected to catalyse digital transformation across multiple sectors. Potential applications include smart factory solutions, enhanced remote operations, and sophisticated IoT-enabled systems that can dramatically improve operational efficiency and competitiveness.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, UnoTelos and Niral Networks envision expanding their collaboration, with plans to:
- Increase deployment scope
- Develop more advanced connectivity solutions
- Support the development of Private 5G & EDGE infrastructure
- Advance critical sectors like telemedicine and autonomous systems
Since Friday, December 27, 2024, when Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, announced an increase in its monthly subscription prices across Nigeria, effective immediately for new customers and starting January 27, 2025, for existing users, the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is yet to react officially.
In an email to its subscribers on Friday, the company stated that the price adjustments are necessary to enhance its network infrastructure and maintain the delivery of high-quality internet service across the country.
The new pricing structure is as follows: Standard (Residential) ₦75,000, Mobile – Regional (Roam Unlimited) ₦167,000, and Mobile – Global (Global Roam) ₦717,000.
“These changes reflect our commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to support and improve your experience with Starlink,” the company said.
CSCS Harps on the Role of Tech in Boosting Capital Market Activities
CBN, SEC Approve FCMB Group’s N147bn Rights Offer
Verve International Achieves 70 Million Payment Cards Milestone in Nigeria
Afrobeats and Amapiano Lead Africa’s Musical Revolution
NCC Dismisses Rumours of Telecom Tariff Hike in January
FG Begins N50 Electronic Levy Deductions from Moniepoint, Other Digital Banks
Report Reveals Most Organisations Fear AI-driven Cyberattacks but Lack Key Defences
Nigeria Risks Missing out on $1.2 Trillion AI Opportunity- NigComSat
Firm Sues NIMC, Others On Digital Rights Breach Allegations
Ecobank Sends Important Message to Customers Over Service Disruptions
E-Business3 days agoNBS Votes N35m for Cybersecurity after Cyber Attack
News3 days agoEkeh, Zinox Group Founder Urges Entrepreneurs to Prioritise Integrity, Due Diligence
Uncategorized3 days agoNigerian Airports to Get Mobile Courts to Try Unruly Passengers
E-Financial3 days agoAfDB to Release $2.2Bn Nigerian Agro-Industrial Fund from 2025
Broadcasting2 days agoAfrobeats and Amapiano Lead Africa’s Musical Revolution
Telecom3 days agoNCC Dismisses Rumours of Telecom Tariff Hike in January
News3 days agoSanctions on Air Peace, Other Were for Consumer Protection Infractions, Not Safety- NCAA
E-Financial3 days agoNGX Fines 20 Firms N255.53m for Financial Statements Filing Default