As operators continue to expand the 4G footprint into those hard to reach places, it is vital that deployments also allow for 5G frequencies to be supported, especially at 700 MHz and at 3.5 to 3.8 GHz. Global solutions provider Communication Components Inc. (CCI) has upgraded its range of small cell antennas to help extend the speed and footprint of 4G alongside expanding the 5G reach.

Operators now have more flexibility deploying 4G and 5G services where needed, using the compact size of the antennas in innovative ways, either concealed or with low visual impact aesthetics.

Although small, these products bring 4 x 4 MIMO capability to a Small Cell Antenna range so operators can deploy a multi-band antenna to capture all operational FDD and TDD bands and have a future proof network in 4G and 5G. With 4 x 4 MIMO capability across the 700, 800, 900, 1,800, 2,100, 2,300, 2,600 and 3,500 bands, the small cell antenna has it all covered.

4 x 4 MIMO capability with multiport input in each spectrum group means future proof street level installations and urban extension for 5G coverage where a macro site may not normally be built, protecting network investment and maximizing utilization in hard to acquire locations. Providing full 4 x 4 MIMO capability, with dual polarization, maximizes the link budget ensuring good coverage while maintaining maximum user throughput; essential to the user experience in the modern cellular network.

Ideally suited for urban, suburban or rural environments at street level, the panel is compact in size (less than 0.5 m) and easy to mount, either flat to walls, into street furniture or onto poles. The panels have been placed widely where strict planning restrictions limit the ability to acquire sites. The compact design works within these constraints, and thus they can be deployed simply and quickly within both urban and rural environments.

Released as single sector panel products, the SCA65F (small cell antenna, 65deg sector) range are part of a growing family of panel and omnidirectional small cell antennas released for easy and discrete use in street and residential areas, while maintaining multi-band 4 x 4 MIMO capabilities.