Small cells are rapidly becoming the primary base station for 5G networks due to their ability to provide efficient 5G communication services. These small base stations provide communication services within tens to hundreds of meters, whereas conventional macro cells require large base stations with a communication range of 20 kilometers in radius.
Small cells are ideal for 5G communication, which utilizes a "millimeter wave" frequency in the high band of 3 to 30 GHz. The higher frequency of 5G has shorter wavelengths and a wider bandwidth between the highest and lowest frequencies, allowing for more information to be transmitted, resulting in much faster transmission speeds. However, the straight frequencies used in 5G cannot bounce off objects such as walls, requiring more densely deployed small cells to ensure smooth 5G communication.
Small cells, the base station for 5G
The small size of small cells makes it easy to install them wherever internet lines exist, and they can be provided as an all-in-one device. Moreover, small cell software (SW) is emerging to add features to these 5G small cells. The role of small cells is expanding with the advent of '5G standalone mode SW.' Previously, 5G was a non-standalone mode (NSA) that shared the network with 4G. But now that 5G has been available for several years, various communication technologies have made it possible to implement a communication mode that no longer relies on the 4G network and uses only the 5G network.
As the technologies to add features to these 5G small cells emerge, the future of 5G networks looks even more promising. In 2021, ETRI's "5G Standalone Mode SW" was introduced, a technology that enables small cells to increase their transmission capacity and coverage area at a low cost. The technology has paved the way for further advancement, and in 2022, ETRI once again introduced the world's most advanced 5G standalone SW. This technology provides 2.2 Gbps downlink in the 5G millimeter wave band via small cells, making it possible for 5G users to use 5G smoothly even in densely populated areas and enjoy various services at high transmission speeds even in 5G specialized networks.
The possibilities of 5G small cell technology are endless. As it advances, it will be possible to seamlessly use electronic communication equipment such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), autonomous driving, and the Internet of Things. This will bring us closer to a hyper-realistic society where the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds have been erased.
