3 December 2012
A new Multi-beam Hub Base Station antenna, model number MBA6-3.5DS45/2045, has been developed by Cobham Antenna Systems to enable MIMO (multiple input multiple output) radio system operators to meet their goal of 1Gbps/km2 anywhere within a cell.
Designed for high speed MIMO 4G (and beyond) urban access for backhaul, this was originally a European Union funded project that has become a finished and available Multi-beam antenna with additional Military and Security applications.
By removing barriers to next-generation network deployment, this Multi-narrow-beam antenna allows for a dramatic increase in capacity over existing communication systems. It provides an essential component enabling an improvement to the overall infrastructure capacity density of the current mobile network by an order of magnitude (10x). Projected deployment for this Hub Base Station antenna system is for it to communicate with network of "below-rooftop" Access Base Stations using existing structures. The system strategy with these access base stations will allow self-backhauling.
This Multi-beam antenna has 90° coverage (a 90°arc) utilising six individual narrow beam patterns each with a half power beamwidth of 15°. MIMO capability is provided with ±45° polarisation in each of the six 15° sectors.
The advantage of this format is that a narrow beam can create high density coverage within a specific narrow area allowing for a high level of frequency re-use whilst being far more efficient that installing 6 separate narrow beam directional antennas. By positioning four Multi-beam antennas in a square formation, complete 360° coverage is achieved as this provides 24 dual-polarised beams. The current system benefits from meeting ETSI specification for Multi-beam antennas (EN 302 326-3 V.1.1.2) provides low side-lobe levels for greater system efficiency.
For Security and Military applications the technology can be scaled to cover other frequency bands, with applications such as communications to multiple mobile platforms (ground or airborne). This system has the benefit of providing higher gain over a wider angle than a single sector antenna. Communications are more secure and less prone to intercept and jamming than Wide Beam or Omni antennas.
The antenna measures only 586mm (23") high x 456mm (17.95") wide x 76mm (3") deep, making it extremely compact given that it provides 2 x 6 beams each with 17dBi peak gain. For dense urban deployment, this compact Multi-beam antenna will reduce wind-load on towers and the cost of installation compared with conventional alternatives.
For more information or datasheets please contact us at newmarket.sales@cobham.com, or call us on +44 (0)1638 732177.
