Microconnect distributed antennas (MDA) are small-cell local area (100 metre radius) transmitter-receivers usually fitted to lampposts and other
street furniture
Street furniture is a collective term for objects and pieces of equipment installed along streets and roads for various purposes. It includes benches, traffic barriers, bollards, post boxes, phone boxes, streetlamps, traffic lights, traffic ...
in order to provide
Wireless LAN
A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a wireless computer network
A wireless network is a computer network that uses wireless data connections between network nodes.
Wireless networking is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and bus ...
,
GSM
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation ( 2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such as ...
and
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a packet oriented mobile data standard on the 2G and 3G cellular communication network's global system for mobile communications (GSM). GPRS was established by European Telecommunications Standards Insti ...
connectivity. They are therefore less obtrusive than the usual masts and
antennas
In radio engineering, an antenna or aerial is the interface between radio waves propagating through space and electric currents moving in metal conductors, used with a transmitter or receiver. In transmission, a radio transmitter supplies a ...
used for these purposes and meet with less public opposition.
Service provided
The service provided by microconnect distributed antennas cover a market in heavily populated urban area addressing mobile and radio connection. Also MDA is suited for bustling cities and historical areas where mobile connection and ability is impaired. Having many low power, small antennae preforms and covers an area equal to or better than a traditional Macrocellular site. The centrally located radio base station connects to the antennae by fibre optical cable. Each antenna point contains a 63–65
GHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
wireless unit alongside a large memory store providing
proxy
Proxy may refer to:
* Proxy or agent (law), a substitute authorized to act for another entity or a document which authorizes the agent so to act
* Proxy (climate), a measured variable used to infer the value of a variable of interest in climate re ...
and
cache
Cache, caching, or caché may refer to:
Places United States
* Cache, Idaho, an unincorporated community
* Cache, Illinois, an unincorporated community
* Cache, Oklahoma, a city in Comanche County
* Cache, Utah, Cache County, Utah
* Cache Count ...
services. Also users will be able to obtain 64 kbit uplink/ 384kbit downlink service. Multiple operators can share this infrastructure. So that different service providers can this technology to benefit their customers.
Four part MDA System
The four part MDA system is, the DAS (Distributed Antenna System) Master unit, access network
optical fibre
An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means to ...
, and the Remote Radio over Fibre (RoF) Unit (Remote Antennae Points). Followed by the Supervisory and Management facilities. This system is compatible GSM (2g and 2.5G) and
3G network
3G is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. It is the upgrade over 2G, 2.5G, GPRS and 2.75G Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution networks, offering faster data transfer, and better voice quality. This n ...
requirements of mobile users.
The MDA is an economical device that gives a somewhat low-cost solution to give more people access to mobile and broadband connection. This solution also has a low environmental impact that might not clutter up a historical part of an urban area. As communities become more and more dependent on technology solutions like the MDA system is perfect for protecting the natural beauty.
See also
*
Distributed antenna system
A distributed antenna system, or DAS, is a network of spatially separated antenna nodes connected to a common source via a transport medium that provides wireless service within a geographic area or structure. DAS antenna elevations are general ...
*
In-Building Cellular Enhancement System
References
External links
The Register article about rollout of MDA in Westminster, London, UK
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Wireless networking hardware
Mobile telecommunications