GSM signals do not penetrate underground. In densely populated urban areas, a high quality signal may be required for safety or network quality reasons.
But because underground facilities (car parks, subway stations…) are likely to be low- traffic areas, the requirement is for an easily deployable, cost-effective solution. This is not least because access for donor antennas may be limited, and it’s likely that routing thick coaxial cables for passive antenna systems will be difficult.
Picocells provide a very cost-effective solution in this situation:
- Easy to deploy while providing thousands of square metres of coverage.
- Require only Ethernet cabling for connectivity.
- No requirement for dedicated equipment room or intensive maintenance.
