A skyline success—Optimizer RooftopRF conditioning gets a Latin feelAn evolution of integrationWireless coverage that WINS

STAY CONNECTEDThe Radio Frequency Systems Bulletin

4TH QUARTER 2006

T h e C l e a r C h o i c e ™

R A D I O F R E Q U E N C Y S Y S T E M S

T h e C l e a r C h o i c e ™

Please visit us at www.rfsworld.com

It’s a fact of modern life—many of us these

days are looking to shed extra pounds or

kilograms to feel the benefits. It’s exactly the

same in the RF industry. Losing a few pounds

on infrastructure has real ‘lifestyle benefits’ for

carriers, broadcasters, tower owners and

managers, system integrators and installers.

Weight—or lack of it—has significant total

life-cycle cost implications.

Reduced weight at the tower top is a core

Radio Frequency Systems’ Value Message, and

an area where we clearly lead the market.

RFS offers the wireless world the lightest weight

solutions—pound-for-pound, ounce-for-ounce,

kilo-for-kilo.

Interestingly, it has been a cornerstone objective

of our RF solutions almost since our company

began. In the early 1950s, RFS presented

the wireless market with the world’s first

corrugated outer foam-dielectric coaxial cable.

Manufactured using our patented continuous

welding technique, the ‘new’ RFS flexible

feeder system liberated installers of the time

from an RF transmission system that was

extremely heavy and labor-intensive to install.

The RFS corrugated transmission line relieved

towers and civil structures of an unnecessary

load, dramatically reducing the labor efforts

required to complete the transmitter to

tower-top link.

Shedding kilograms on the end-to-end RF

solution has very real, very quantifiable capex

and opex impacts to those paying the check.

Consider these:

Tower space rentals—The vertical real-estate

sector bases a large portion of its tariffs on the

weight, rather than the volume or total number,

of the components mounted at the tower-top.

In many areas of North America, for example,

tower-top ‘components’ attract zero weight

tariff for total weights up to 20 pounds

(9 kilograms), and then a sliding scale applies

for weights above that. Carriers pay dearly for

those extra pounds—every month.

Support infrastructure—The weight cost passes

down the line to those who own and

maintain the actual infrastructure supporting

the RF components. Every kilogram counts—

transmission line, antennas, RF conditioning

components, brackets and so on. More

kilograms mean more steel, more welding

more bracketing, bracing and supporting.

Labor and installation—In some parts of the

world, the difference between 22 kilograms

and 19 kilograms (48 pounds and 42 pounds) is

the difference between two men up the tower

versus one. That’s twice the labor costs during

installation and maintenance. With these costs

a major element of modern capex and opex,

an opportunity to save on associated labor is

all-important.

Logistics and transport—And it’s not just the

at-site handling that matters. Logistics and

transport are often the great ‘hidden cost’ of any

roll-out strategy and one thing is for certain—

consignment weight is the biggest factor in

determining the bottom line on logistics.

Across its entire solution set, RFS has

demonstrated that weight really matters.

We offer the market’s lightest weight solution

in every sector. Consider these examples:

CELLFLEX L-Series—Our new aluminum outer

corrugated foam-dielectric transmission line is

the lightest RF transmission line solution available

today. Weighing in at just 330 grams per meter

(3.5 ounces per foot), CELLFLEX L-Series is less

than two-thirds of the weight of competing

transmission lines. It’s a world’s-first, and a

lightweight solution for the wireless generation.

Lightweight tower solutions—Courtesy of our

towers division group, CGTI Towers, RFS is able

to offer some of the lightest self-supporting

tower structures in the world. These include

32 C O N T E N T S

IMPR

INTRadio Frequency Systems

WorldWideWeb: http://www.rfsworld.com

Publisher: Jörg SpringerExecutive Editor/Editor Asia Pacific South:Peter WaltersEditor EMAI: Regine SulingEditor Americas North: Ann PolanskiEditor Americas South: Luciana Del NeroEditor Asia Pacific North: Sammie QianManaging Editor: Allan AldersonProduction Editor: Regine KrügerArt Director: Matthias Schwedt, Marilu Krallmann

Authors: Allan Alderson, Prue Gallagher, Dr. Ellen Gregory, Ben Lazzaro, Jerome Lettisier, Mary-therese Rizkalla, Regine Suling Photos: RFS archives, Cingular Wireless, Dirk Ebrecht,Flintriver, Getty Images, inform stock, George Johnson,Dominic Lobriza, Luciana Del Nero, Focke StrangmannFotos, Kimbo ZengCover art: Matthias Schwedt

Print: Print Design, Minden

Layout and Graphics:inform Advertising, Hannover

Editorial Services:Relate Technical Communications, MelbourneTrademarks: CELLFLEX®, BDA®, FLEXWELL®, MicroTenna™, Optimizer®, RADIAFLEX®, RadioFrequency Systems®, RFS®, RFS CompactLine®,SlimLine®, RGFLEX® and The Clear Choice™ are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of Radio Frequency Systems.

Optimizer Rooftop: Cleverly compact—powerful performanceStriking the optimal balance between aesthetics, RF performance and capex/opex,RFS’s new Optimizer Rooftop is set to transform urban rooftops the world-over.

4

What is mobile TV?Amid the flurry of activity and hype surrounding mobile TV, STAY CONNECTEDsteps back and takes a look at the various network models and technology platformsthat have emerged as contenders.

6

10 Wireless coveragewhere everybody WINSWhether standing onthe thirtieth floor of a skyscraper or seated in a subway, today’s consumers want wire-less access whenever and wherever they are.RFS Wireless IndoorsSolutions provides thesolutions.

RFS: Lose weight to play a heavier role

E D I T O R I A L

Stéphane Klajzyngier

Radio Frequency Systems President

innovative tower designs that boast extremely

high wind- and weight-loading capacities, yet

weigh a fraction of legacy galvanized steel

tower solutions.

Lightweight polymer filters—RFS was the

first on the market with silver-plated

polymer filters. Slashing the weight of

tower-top RF conditioning technologies by

around 50 percent, this RFS innovation also

provides the highest RF performance.

Twin tower-mount amplifiers (TMAs)—The

recently launched twin PCS-band TMAs for the

US market demonstrate the weight advantage of

our advanced RF conditioning designs. For this

market, we’re providing twice the functionality

in a standard weight and sized package.

Low-profile/low wind-load microwave solutions—

With microwave antennas, the very nature of the

antenna means that wind load equates to the

effective ‘weight’ of the antenna on the tower.

Our ultra-low profile SlimLine and CompactLine

solutions provide a microwave antenna that is

almost invisible to wind. Ingenious design of the

feed system has allowed us to develop the

slimmest profile antenna with ‘beyond industry

standard’ operational and survival windspeed

rating. The end result? Less effective ‘weight’

on the supporting tower means less cost to

the end-user.

In some parts of the world, the ‘light-weight’

title is something of a putdown—in the

RF solutions world, it’s quite the opposite.

RFS has worn the ‘lightweight leader’ badge

proudly for over half a century. For more than

five decades we have led the market in the

development of minimal weight end-to-end

RF solutions. Our long-term goal is to continue

reducing, trimming and cutting back on

component weight. At RFS, we are taking—

and will continue to take—the weight off

our customers’ shoulders.

13

15Base station antenna’s evolution of integrationThe ubiquitous wireless base station antenna takes the next step in its evolution—one that sees the ‘antenna’ become an ‘antenna system’, with integrated functionality that transforms it far beyond its passive roots.

03 EditorialRFS: Lose weight to play a heavier role

4 What’s NewOptimizer Rooftop: Cleverly compact—powerful performance

6 Cover StoryWhat is mobile TV?

9 BroadcastChina mobilizes for mobile TV

10 Wireless Indoor SolutionsWireless coverage where everybody WINS

13 RF ConditioningRF conditioning gets a Latin feel

14 Feeder SystemsPuerto Rico trial a ‘Cingular’ success

15 Wireless SolutionsBase station antenna’s evolution of integration

18 In TouchIn-tunnel radio on Sydney orbital motorway

World Cup coverage in Hamburg Metro

Great idea is recycled

New in-tunnel project for Beijing Subway

Click, tick… and win!

RF conditioning gets a Latin feelWith the global demand for network optimization components on the rise, RFSlaunches its fourth RF conditioning manufac-turing facility in Embu, São Paulo, Brazil.

Stéphane Klajzyngier

to alter the radome nor compromise

the RF specification of its world-renowned

Optimizer premium-grade antenna when

developing the Optimizer Rooftop solution.

Most importantly, the Optimizer Rooftop cluster

assembly permits a full +/- 20 degrees of azimuth

adjustment on each antenna in the tri-sector

cluster. This ensures premium optimization

flexibility, and allows the network manager to

tackle almost any site configuration, including

challenging straight-line roads and highways.

The RFS Optimizer antenna family features

upper side-lobe suppression typically better

than 20 dB across the entire tilt and frequency

range, and significantly increased gain. The

Optimizer Rooftop antennas incorporate

continuously adjustable variable electrical tilt

over a wide 0 to 10-degree range.

Mechanically, the Optimizer Rooftop is uniquely

stable and robust, with a proven survival

wind-speed rating of 250 kilometers per hour

The new Optimizer Rooftop is a unique all-in-one

solution comprising base, mast, tri-sector

antenna cluster and RF cabling. It strikes at

the heart of the modern network manager’s

most vexing problem—the visual impact

requirements that often prove to be the

‘Achilles’ heel’ of urban site acquisition and

site renewal negotiations. Available now in

selected regional markets, the Optimizer

Rooftop has been tailored for deployment on

the rooftops of buildings of four or more floors.

The base—an ingenious ‘star-configuration’—

has been computer-designed to ensure premium

stability, even in winds of up to 250 kilometers

per hour (155 miles per hour). This is achieved

without the use of concrete ballast, ensuring

unrivalled convenience in transport to site,

assembly and site positioning. The Optimizer

Rooftop’s mast is a slender 75-millimeter

(three-inch)-diameter structure that tilts into

place, and supports both the tri-sector antenna

cluster and optional RF conditional module.

The low-profile antenna cluster houses three

RFS Optimizer family premium performance

sector antennas, each providing a full

+/-20-degrees of azimuth adjustment—a vital

feature in modern network management.

Minimal visual impactThe slender lines of the Optimizer Rooftop

ensure that—either when viewed from

the street or the rooftop itself—it blends

easily with the building architecture and

the surrounding environment. This refreshing

approach to environmental integration provides

a new and powerful advantage during lease

negotiations and site acquisitions.

“Site negotiation is the key factor to roll-out and

network renewal in urban areas,” says Radio

54 W H A T ’ S N E W

The Optimizer Rooftop has been developed with

the site crew in mind, permitting easy assembly

with simple tools and a two-person crew.

Assembly heights (nominal):Three models are available at first release—3 meter (10 ft), 4 meter (13 ft), variableheight/telescopic version—4 to 5.5 meter (13 to 18 ft)

Antenna variants:Initial offering of nine RFS Optimizer antenna variations:

• Broadband (1800-2200 MHz) in 0.7, 1.3 and 1.8 meter lengths (2.3, 4.25 and 6 ft)• Side-by-side (a paired combination of 1800 MHz and 2200 MHz) in 1.3 and 1.8 meter lengths (4.25 and 6 ft)• Triple-band (900/1800/2200 MHz) in2 and 2.6 meter lengths (6.5 and 8.5 ft)• Dual-band (in paired combinations of900 MHz + 1800 MHz and 900 MHz + 2200 MHz) in 1.3 and 2 meter lengths (4.25 and 6.5 ft)

Azimuth adjustment:+/- 20 degrees on each sector (full 360 degrees prior to final installation)

Variable electrical tilt:0 to 10 degrees across all lobes (main, rear and sides)

RF conditioning: An optional fully integrated tower-mount amplifier (TMA) module houses up to threeTMAs or boosters, plus antenna tilt control units (ACUs). Antenna Interface StandardsGroup (AISG) v2.0 compliant

Future-proof options:Microwave antenna fittings; remote radio head (RRH) (fiber-to-the-tower); WiMAX-readyantenna solutions

Wind performance:250 km/hr (155 mph) survival

Rooftop pressure:Typically 150 kg/square meter (31 lbs/square ft)

Rooftop fixings: None required

Assembly and assembly time:Crane-free assembly by two installers; four hours to ‘on-air’

Maximum component weight:Maximum of 30 kg (66 lbs) per person

Maximum component length:Typically 2.2 meters (7.25 ft)

Optimizer Rooftop at a glance

Frequency Systems (RFS) Area Product Manager

Rémi Deniel. “It was with this in mind, that we

developed the Optimizer Rooftop. It is a unique

solution in this sector, as it has actually been

tailored for the rooftop environment. We have

not only addressed the all-important aesthetic

and minimal visual impact issues that underpin

site acquisition, but have ensured that the

RF performance and total life-cycle cost issues

have been optimized as well. In short, we’ve

addressed the needs of all stakeholders in the

base station deployment scenario.”

40-degrees azimuth adjustmentUnlike competing rooftop solutions, the

Optimizer Rooftop makes no compromise in

performance. RFS recognized that urban

network densification, coupled with the

prospective height above street-level of any

rooftop site, demanded the very best in RF

performance. As a result, RFS elected not

(155 miles per hour) and mast deflection of less

than one-degree at 160 kilometers per hour

(100 miles per hour).

Total lifecycle cost reductionThe Optimizer Rooftop reduces the total

lifecycle cost of the rooftop base station, by

providing premium value to all stakeholders. At

the site-acquisition stage, its slim lines and

reduced visual and architectural impact ensure

that costly new site rejections and existing lease

cancellations are avoided.

During site-installation, the Optimizer Rooftop

dramatically cuts labor and equipment

costs. As the entire assembly breaks down

into conveniently light and maneuverable

components, the entire Optimizer Rooftop can

be transported with a small team—from

street-level to rooftop—using conventional

building access (stairways or elevator). No crane

or lifting equipment is required.

The Optimizer Rooftop has been developed

with the site crew in mind, permitting easy

assembly with simple tools and a two-person

crew. The ‘star configuration’ base permits easy

location around existing rooftop fixtures and

equipment, and requires no fixing down or

rooftop drilling. Factory pre-commissioning

of the Optimizer Rooftop ensures premium

reliability and fast and easy site commissioning.

The entire assembly process—from ‘on-the-

street’ to ‘on-air’—is typically completed in just

four hours.

Over the course of the life of the base station, the

Optimizer Rooftop continues to provide OPEX

savings. The flexibility inherent in its azimuth

beam and tilt adjustment, ensures unrivalled

network optimization. Ongoing maintenance,

and antenna and RF conditioning module

change-outs are easy, courtesy of the assembly’s

convenient tilting mast. The Optimizer Rooftop

is a uniquely future-proof assembly, ensuring

minimal major overhauls and site down-time

during the life of the site. Future-proof features

include provision for important add-ons such as

microwave antenna, remote radio head (‘fiber-to-

the tower’) solutions, and a growing suite

of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave

Access (WiMAX)-ready antenna solutions.

Elegant, ingenious and powerful, the RFS

Optimizer Rooftop has been tailor-made

to meet the exacting needs of urban rooftop

deployment, without compromise on any

front. It is a revolution in the sky—it is the

RFS Optimizer Rooftop.

The Optimizer Rooftop cluster assembly permits a full

+/- 20 degrees of azimuth adjustment on each antenna

in the tri-sector cluster.

Striking the optimal balance between aesthetics, RF performance andcapex/opex, RFS’s new Optimizer Rooftop is set to transform urbanrooftops the world-over.

Opt imizer Rooftop:Clever ly compact—powerful performance

important difference is that DVB-H transmits

the signal in bursts in order to conserve handset

battery life. It also incorporates greater

forward error correction, essential for boosting

handheld reception.

Another significant difference is the data

encapsulation technique. The DVB-H stream

is an IP datacast at 200 to 500 kbps/program,

yielding up to 50 programs in an 8-MHz channel.

This resolution is sufficient for the tiny handset

screen. In contrast, standard-definition DVB-T

uses MPEG-2 (or MPEG-4) encoding at

4 to 5 Mbps/program, yielding up to five

‘standard resolution’ programs per channel.

DVB-H is not the only mobile TV platform

finding favor. Korea and China are the first to

embrace terrestrial digital multimedia broadcast

(T-DMB), derived from the Eureka 147 digital

audio broadcast (DAB) standard. Moreover, the

USA’s Qualcomm has developed the forward

link only (FLO) technology for the delivery of

multimedia content. T-DMB, FLO and DVB-H

have each addressed the same handset-related

issues—battery life, reception and screen

resolution—albeit in different ways.

There is presently a great deal of industry hype

surrounding ‘mobile television’. Said by some to

be the next ‘killer app’ of the mobile sector, and

dismissed by others as having no sustainable

business model, mobile TV is a conjure of

possibilities. It lies at the eye of a maelstrom of

technologies, network models and frequency

bands, waiting for many trials to end and the

manifestation of a clue as to the most practical

and commercially viable direction.

The notion of delivering television signals to a

moving receiver is not an entirely new concept.

A number of countries have for years enjoyed

live digital television in buses and trains,

courtesy of digital video broadcast terrestrial

(DVB-T) technology. Utilizing coded orthogonal

frequency division multiplexing (COFDM)

modulation, DVB-T was originally designed

with mobile applications in mind. The signal can

accommodate variations in signal strength, field

strength and multiple reflections that typically

reach a receiver in motion.

However, despite this foresight in its

development, DVB-T as it stands is not

appropriate for broadcasting to handheld

devices. Nor is its US counterpart, the advanced

television systems committee (ATSC) standard,

utilizing 8 Vestigial Side Band (8VSB)

modulation, which was never designed for

mobile applications.

Experiencing TV on handheld devices raises

a whole new set of issues that have spawned

several new broadcast technology platforms.

Attracting the most attention globally is the

digital video broadcast to handhelds (DVB-H)

standard, which is derived from DVB-T. The

It is generally well accepted that UMTS-based

mobile TV has limitations. The service is here and

available now, but the unicast (one-to-one)

nature of UMTS means that as the viewer base

grows, mobile TV will not be sustainable on this

platform—even as UMTS heads towards

‘3G long term evolution’ (3G LTE) or in-band

cellular broadcast techniques such as

multimedia broadcast/multicast service

(MBMS). Recent reports have suggested

that it makes more sense to use the spectrum

for wireless data services that can be charged

at a higher rate than can television.

Mobile carriers are therefore turning to

broadcast models for mobile TV. Their quest

to utilize existing base station sites has

led to the ‘cellular overlay’ model for mobile

TV, where broadcast infrastructure is deployed

at mobile base stations to provide mobile TV

coverage in a similar way to a cell-based mobile

network.

Coverage adjustmentsThe broadcast industry approaches mobile

TV coverage from the other direction.

Conventional free-to-air TV is typically broadcast

from centralized high-power transmission sites,

supported by supplementary repeater or ‘gap

filling’ stations. It is relatively straightforward to

deploy a mobile TV service in the same manner;

however, there do need to be adjustments

to coverage planning.

Research indicates that the ‘high-power

terrestrial broadcast’ model for mobile TV

will require more repeater sites than for

conventional television. One reason is because,

owing to an increase in reflections at ground

level, the forward error correction applied to

the signal is increased, resulting in a trade-off

in signal-strength that needs to be addressed.

It has been reported that a receiver at ground

level incurs a signal-strength penalty of

It starts with deliveryThe choice of technology platform is just one

element of delivery—and delivery just one

consideration—in the riddle that is mobile TV.

Commercial imperatives drive all, and are also

dependent on such aspects as consumer

viewing habits, handset development,

content licensing and government regulatory

environment. Yet it is with delivery that the

whole mobile TV enterprise gets moving, and

delivery infrastructure that represents a

significant proportion of capital outlay.

Consequently, the question of which delivery

model proves best—and most cost-effective—

is one of high interest.

Speculation is compounded by the existence of sev-

eral different industry players. On the one hand, there

are the mobile communications carriers. These have

an existing subscriber base and perceive mobile TV

as a means of extending and differentiating their

service. Many have introduced third-generation

(3G) mobile TV services based on universal mobile

telecommunications service (UMTS) in recent

months, while at the same time partnering broad-

cast-based mobile TV trials.

76 C O V E R S T O R Y

Amid the flurry of activity and hype surrounding mobile TV,STAY CONNECTED steps back and takes a look at thevarious network models and technology platforms thathave emerged as contenders.

approximately -12 to -16 dB (depending on

frequency band) compared with the average

rooftop antenna.

Additionally, consumers have also come to

expect their handsets to work indoors and in

moving vehicles, each reported to incur

another -8 to -12 dB (or more) signal impact.

The provision of indoor coverage is considered

one of the main challenges of mobile

TV networks.

A third infrastructure model, incorporating

satellite blanket coverage supported by

low-power terrestrial repeaters, has been

proposed. The repeaters would be co-located at

mobile base stations to supplement urban and

provide indoor coverage.

A unifying element in all three network models

is the convergence of industries that have been

hitherto quite separate. Mobile carriers will

need to embrace broadcast technology and

content; broadcasters (or infrastructure/service

providers) will need to team up with carriers,

who already have the subscriber base. In fact, it

seems logical for mobile TV systems to be intrin-

sically linked with mobile phone services, which

can provide a one-to-one back-channel for

interactivity. This could even prove to be a

driver for consumer take-up.

The band debateFrom a technical—and practical—standpoint,

the other major delivery option pertains

to frequency band, of which several are

being considered: VHF (170 to 240 MHz),

UHF (470 to 860 MHz), L Band (variable

depending on region, but generally falls

somewhere between UHF and S Band) and

S Band (2170 to 2200 MHz).

Most popular globally for digital terrestrial

television is the UHF band, which has also seen

the most mobile TV activity to-date. It has good

propagation characteristics and, if deployed

using the terrestrial broadcast model, should be

capable of providing coverage of a large city

using 20 to 50 repeater sites. Qualcomm in the

USA is using this model for its commercial

MediaFLO service (using the FLO platform),

but, as other trials have shown, it is also ideal for

deploying DVB-H.

The UHF band is also suitable for networks

deployed using the cellular overlay model, since

UHF frequencies are just below conventional

global standard for mobile communications

(GSM) or US ‘Cellular’ code division multiple

access (CDMA) frequencies. This type of network

is being trialed in many countries across Europe.

One of the main challenges associated with

the UHF band is the limited availability

of spectrum in most parts of the world, but

especially Europe. Some governments are

considering assigning two or three UHF

frequencies for DVB-H mobile TV services,

which can be deployed as single frequency

networks (SFN). Although it makes network

configuration more complex, an SFN is a

highly efficient use of spectrum, and a

network of two or three overlapping SFNs

could be a promising option.

The VHF Band III has even better RF propagation

characteristics than UHF. It is not suitable for the

cellular overlay model, since the antennas

would be too large for existing base stations;

but it is an ideal candidate for the terrestrial

broadcast model, where city coverage could be

achieved with just a handful of repeaters. From

a network deployment perspective, VHF would

appear to offer the lowest roll-out costs coupled

with the best indoor coverage.

Factoring in availabilityKorea and China are both deploying commercial

T-DMB mobile TV services in VHF Band III, as per

DAB services. To-date, there has been no move

to deploy DVB-H in VHF Band III; however, since

Cellular overlay model High-power terrestrial broadcast model Hybrid satellite / terrestrial model

Network models for mobile TV

DVB-T services operate in VHF Band III, there

seems little reason why DVB-H would not as

well. The main obstacle is again one of spectrum

availability—of the four considered bands it has

the most limited availability in most countries—

coupled perhaps with convention.

The other two bands—L Band and the satellite

S Band—are emerging as contenders. Both

provide reduced terrestrial propagation and

in-building coverage compared with the lower

frequency bands, but have the advantage

of being more readily available. L Band looks

set to support a commercial deployment of

DVB-H mobile TV services in the USA; S Band is

that proposed to support a DVB-H based hybrid

satellite/terrestrial repeater model.

Irrespective of which frequency band is

selected, the signal polarization is also under

examination. The FLO systems being deployed

use circular polarization (CP), which is a

combination of vertical (VP) and horizontal

(HP) components. It has been speculated that

a CP signal may facilitate reception at the

mobile handset regardless of orientation.

broadcast signal to suit

each site’s individual

broadcast environment.

A RFS CA6PX180DAB

balanced combiner

system enables the RF

combining of the two

mobile TV channels

broadcast from each site. The RF link between

the transmitter and the antenna is achieved

using 1-5/8-inch diameter HELIFLEX or CELLFLEX

coaxial transmission line.

Zeng explains the need for using two different

antenna types: “The 659 series panel array allows

a more tailored pattern coverage, like that required

in the built-up environment of Shenzhen,” he

says. “The 618 series side-mount dipole antennas

are used in the other Guangdong cities where a

standard 270 or 360 degrees horizontal radiation

pattern (HRP) was required.”

TV in the hands of the peopleStage one of the Guangdong mobile TV project

was completed in May, 2006, with eight antenna

systems installed across the major city centers.

These support uninterrupted broadcasts of a

range of information, sports and entertainment

programs. “Stage one of the mobile TV network

is already providing the citizens of Guangdong

province with unprecedented flexibility in their

television viewing,” says Zeng. “Broadcast

technology from RFS has placed television in the

hands of the Chinese people.”

Stage two is due for completion by the end

of 2006 and includes the provision of an

additional 13 antenna systems, with 21 antenna

systems to follow in the third and final project

stage in mid-2007.

With the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games

approaching and the 2006 World Cup contested

earlier this year, the implementation of the mobile

TV technology could not have come at a better

time. “The first-stage network provided die-hard

football fans with around-the-clock World Cup

coverage, while the completed Guangdong

mobile TV network will be fully operational in

time for the 2008 Olympics,” says Zeng. “RFS’s

ability to provide GMTM with a tailored

end-to-end broadcast solution means millions of

Chinese sports fans won’t miss a thing.”

Putting the signal on the groundWith extensive global experience in providing

broadband RF solutions, RFS joined the

Guangdong mobile TV project in the early

stages of design, and collaborated with GMTM

in order to produce a fully engineered

broadcast system, tailored to the various local

broadcast environments.

According to Kimbo Zeng, RFS Broadcast

Product Manager China, providing digital mobile

television coverage to handheld devices differs

greatly from the provision of standard terrestrial

TV coverage, and involves a unique set of

engineering challenges. “When planning coverage

for broadcast signals to fixed television antennas,

the receive antenna height is assumed to be

approximately ten meters (30 feet) off the

ground,” says Zeng. “However, to ensure

optimum mobile TV reception, greater coverage

saturation is required. Mobile TV coverage

planning should be carried out assuming that the

signal must be supplied only one meter (3.3 ft)

off the ground or ‘put on the ground’. This

means that existing planning tools used to

design traditional fixed TV coverage need to be

modified. RFS’s broadcast experience and know-

how has enabled us to adapt to the unique

technical requirements of mobile TV.”

The 42 combined broadcast systems used to

achieve this saturated coverage comprise a range

of the latest RFS technologies. RFS’s 618 series

side-mount dipole antennas or RFS’s 659 series

panel arrays were used to provide a precise

In early 2006, one of China’s newest mobile media

companies, Guangdong Mobile Television Media

Co. Ltd (GMTM), embarked on a three-stage

broadcast initiative, delivering dual-channel

mobile television service to China’s southern

province of Guangdong. The Guangdong

mobile TV project is the largest commercial

mobile television network in the world to

date, and represents a broadcast engineering

accomplishment of the highest order.

One of China’s first mobile television services, the

Guangdong mobile TV network employs digital

multimedia broadcasting (DMB) technology, making

GMTM one of the first service providers outside

of South Korea to adopt the digital transmission

system. With the Chinese government yet to

establish a national digital transmission system

standard, the success of the Guangdong mobile

TV network is sure to provide a valuable

reference point.

Implemented in three stages and scheduled for

completion in mid-2007, the Guangdong mobile

TV project incorporates 42 separate antenna

systems. With transmission sites located in

Guangdong province cities of Guangzhou,

Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen and

Zhuhai, the country’s latest broadcast installation

is predicted to attract over three million viewers.

A series of combined broadcast systems designed

and manufactured by Radio Frequency Systems,

allows the transmission of two Band III VHF

channels, delivering mobile TV to the handsets

of urban and rural citizens of Guangdong.

B R O A D C A S T 98 C O V E R S T O R Y

A complete VHF antenna solution from Radio Frequency Systems allowsGuangdong Mobile Television Media Co. Ltd to deliver one of China’s first mobile television services.

China mobi l izes for mobi le TV China mobi l izes for mobi le TV

Mobile TV at a glance

Major technology platforms include:• DVB-H—derived from DVB-T

• T-DMB—derived from DAB

• FLO—developed by Qualcomm

Network models:• Cellular overlay—broadcast network

overlaid at mobile communications

base stations

• High-power terrestrial broadcast—based on terrestrial broadcast models

with an increased number of

repeater stations

• Hybrid satellite/terrestrial—uses

satellite for blanket coverage, supported

by terrestrial repeaters

Frequency bands:• VHF Band III (170 to 240 MHz)—Best

propagation, including indoor coverage,

but limited availability

• UHF television band (470 to 860 MHz)—

Good propagation with moderate indoor

coverage, but limited availability

• L Band terrestrial/satellite (between UHF

and S Band, depending on region)—Lower

terrestrial propagation and poor indoor

penetration, and availability dependent

on country

• Satellite S Band (2170 to 2200 MHz)—

Low terrestrial propagation and indoor

penetration, but very good availability.

This may, however, be a moot point, since

the multiple reflections experienced by HP

and VP signals can alter the polarization,

effectively producing a mixture of polarization

components by the time the signal reaches

the handset.

Vertical polarization is favored at present by

both DVB-H trials and T-DMB deployments. In

the latter case, this probably harks back to the

DAB convention, since radio signals are often

VP to enhance reception by car antennas. Use of

VP also enhances isolation from HP television

signals at similar frequencies. Most DVB-H

trials are using VP, although at least one utilizes

a HP signal. Ultimately, the selection of

polarization will depend upon the receiver

performance when faced with multiple signals

from reflections, plus the indoor penetration

of the signal.

Which way forward?The future of mobile TV depends on many

factors; but if it is proved that consumers want

mobile TV—and are prepared to pay for it—

then half the battle is won. The network model

will then be determined by how cost-effectively

networks can be deployed and the availability of

frequencies and licenses. This is likely to differ on

a case-by-case basis.

Utilizing existing infrastructure will be a key

element. It is not difficult to incorporate mobile

TV services into existing broadband terrestrial

broadcast systems—particularly if the systems

were initially designed to accommodate

additional services or channels. The most

significant capital outlay would come with the

deployment of additional repeater stations.

If, on the other hand, a mobile TV network is

deployed as a cellular overlay, this will involve a

significant shift in broadcast infrastructure

philosophy. The quest to deploy television

antennas at existing mobile base stations

(hundreds, perhaps thousands, of sites) will

encounter the same challenges as experienced

by mobile phone carriers—the demand for

low-profile, environmentally friendly antennas;

the mandate for low emissions; site-by-site

negotiations; and the trade-off between capex

and opex. It could also promote utilization of the

higher-frequency L Band and its inherently more

compact infrastructure.

Co-location interference issues also need to

be considered when overlaying mobile TV

and wireless communications services. With

UHF frequencies so close to the GSM 900-MHz

receive band (usually 890 to 915 MHz) and the

CDMA 800-MHz receive band (usually 824 to

849 MHz), careful frequency planning and

coordination will be required. Moreover, if the

broadcast signal is too high in power, it could

cause ‘blocking’ in the sensitive GSM or CDMA

receivers, unless RF filtering is deployed. Similar

situations arise with both the L Band and S Band

frequencies, which are all in the vicinity of

high-band GSM, CDMA and UMTS services.

In addition, it is likely that all mobile TV network

topologies will ultimately need to incorporate

dedicated wireless indoor solutions (WINS) to

provide coverage inside multi-level buildings,

large campuses (such as airports and shopping

malls) and underground road tunnels and metro

systems. These could be integrated with existing

broadband WINS systems for mobile wireless

communications.

True convergenceClearly, for mobile TV to succeed as a commercial

venture, it will involve many players in the

wireless sector: mobile phone carriers,

broadcasters, handset manufacturers, content

providers, infrastructure groups, base

station OEMs, government and licensing bodies.

These parties will need to collaborate and

form partnerships in order to make mobile

TV work—both technically and commercially.

The quest to maximize the bottom line will

ultimately reveal which network model,

technology platform and frequency band

combine to form the most viable option for

a specific country or market. And it will be

dependent on which provides the most

attractive and accessible model for consumer

uptake. Whatever the outcome, it will represent

a true convergence of multiple technologies.

From this will materialize the true meaning

of mobile TV.

Going hybridWhere amplification of the signal is necessary—

as in larger buildings or tunnels that are more

than 500 meters (1640 feet) in length—hybrid

solutions often need be deployed. Hybrid

solutions mix ‘active’ elements—usually signal

amplifiers such as fiber-fed repeaters or in-line

bi-directional amplifiers (BDAs)—with ‘passive’

cables and antennas to distribute and boost the

signal throughout larger interiors.

One form of hybrid system involves taking the

signal from a remote BTS and re-amplifying it

into specified spaces via off-air repeaters.

Typically, this is efficient when the BTS signal is

weak, or when the BTS is outside a building or

tunnel. Alternatively, the signal can be taken

from the radiating cable and re-amplified

through a suitably located BDA along the

remaining length of the cable (Figure 3).

A more sophisticate network structure is

illustrated in Figure 4, which involves

transmitting the signal via a fiber optic network

to repeaters, which are then used to drive a

passive solution. Fiber-fed systems comprise a

‘master unit’, from which the signal is then

transmitted through a fiber optic network

around the building or zone in which service

is required.

In each remote part of the building or tunnel, a

‘remote unit’ receives and amplifies the signal,

which is then distributed through a passive

network of cables and antennas. The remote

unit is ‘active’ since it amplifies the signal, but the

final part of the solution (the cables and

antennas) is ‘passive’.

These hybrid solutions are suited to long tunnels

as well as zones that are spread out, such as large

buildings and campuses, retail complexes

and airports. They also suit structures where it is

signal using cables and antennas, without

amplification (Figure 2). This solution is ideally

suited to small buildings (typically from

5000 square meters/54,000 square feet, up to

50,000 square meters/540,000 square feet) and

tunnels less than 500 meters (1640 feet).

Passive distributed antenna systems can be used

either in single or multi-carrier configurations. In

a single carrier configuration, cables are

connected directly to the operator BTS or to

an off-air repeater. For multi-carrier solutions,

different carriers’ BTSs are combined to a

common point of interface (POI), which is

typically located at the entrance to the building.

The distributed antenna system is connected to

the POI and distributed throughout the building.

Many passive solutions are founded on radiating

cables, sometimes called leaky feeders, which

have slots all along the length of the cable

outer to provide contoured RF coverage. These

are ideal in curved spaces where traditional

antennas (requiring line-of-sight for coverage)

are inappropriate. They also work well in

constructions with a metal frame, or where

the signal needs to be limited to a small radius

(a few meters).

Radiating cables are well-suited for distributing

WiFi in buildings, especially when high data-rate

applications have to be used. Radiating cables are

also applicable to situations where avoiding

interference with other devices is critical, such as in

hospitals; or in circumstances with environmental

constraints (down mines, for example, or in prestige

locations with visual aesthetics to consider).

Solutions based on passive distributed antenna

systems are very cost effective, yet still provide

future-proof functionalities. RFS radiating cables

are WiMAX-ready up to 5.8 GHz, and can

combine 2G/3G and WiFi simultaneously.

Scaling barriersThe case for WINS is demonstrated by examining

the scenario of coverage inside a building (or

tunnel) that does not incorporate dedicated

wireless infrastructure. Provided a signal is in

direct line-of-sight from a carrier’s base station,

2G and 3G signals coming from outside a

building can generally cross simple obstructions

such as windows and walls. However, the

higher the frequency, the more difficult it is for

that signal to penetrate barriers.

Typically, a 900-MHz GSM signal will lose 5 dB

each time it passes through a partially metallic

structure. Even more problematic, a 2500-MHz

WiMAX signal will lose 10 dB in those circum-

stances. To put these figures in perspective, a loss

of 3 dB equates to a 50 percent loss in the

quality of a received signal; a loss of 10 dB is

equivalent to a tenfold decrease.

Several types of solutions are available that

resolve these coverage issues. In the most basic

solution scenario (Figure 1), operator base stations

can be extended with signal ‘boosters’—off-air

repeaters installed at ‘building’s gate’. This

technology is particularly appropriate to fill

‘nulls and voids’ for wireless services of a

specific carrier and ensure homogenous

coverage in areas such as large lobbies, halls

and small buildings.

However, a more satisfactory solution is provided

by dedicated wireless infrastructure installed

within the structure to provide premium wireless

coverage. Such solutions can be either entirely

passive in nature, or incorporate a hybrid

structure where the signal undergoes

amplification to cover larger areas.

Passive WINSPassive solutions, also known as distributed

antenna systems, involve distributing an RF

Escalating consumer demand for ‘wireless coverage

where needed’ has led to the emergence of a new

breed of mobile communications solutions. Such

solutions provide mobile connectivity within

environments not traditionally serviced by outdoor

base transceiver stations (BTS)—for example,

tunnels and metros, buildings with wireless needs,

and enterprises with WiFi requirements. In order to

meet this demand for ‘continuous coverage-

at-call’, Radio Frequency Systems works with

wireless carriers, OEMs, and property owners

or managers, to provide a range of mobile

connectivity infrastructures, adaptive to each

unique environment.

Wireless Indoor Solutions (WINS) encompass

infrastructure for services—such as global system

for mobile communications (GSM), universal

mobile telecommunications system (UMTS),

code division multiple access (CDMA), wireless

fidelity (WiFi), personal mobile radio (PMR), and

terrestrial enhanced trunk radio (TETRA)—

inside buildings and throughout structures

where coverage is usually difficult. With the

ultimate objective of high-quality, continuous

coverage, the technology allows end-users to

receive signals in indoor or underground areas

where the carrier’s network or WiFi signal is

either weak, or not properly managed.

Importantly, WINS systems need to meet certain

specific criteria: they must support the new high

data-rate applications that will be important

sources of revenue for carriers in the future; they

must prevent interference between competing

networks and technologies; they should succeed

against physical and aesthetic constraints; they

need to reduce costs for infrastructure owners in

the deployment of second-generation (2G), 3G, or

WiFi; and they must be future-proof for a range of

technologies including UMTS, worldwide interop-

erability for microwave access (WiMAX) and WiFi.

1110

Wireless coverage where everybody WINSWhether standing on the thirtieth floor of a skyscraper or seated in a subway,today’s consumers want wireless access whenever and wherever they are.RFS Wireless Indoor Solutions is meeting both today’s needs and tomorrow’spossibilities.

W I R E L E S S I N D O O R S O L U T I O N S

>–40 dBm>–50 dBm>–60 dBm>–65 dBm>–70 dBm>–75 dBm>–80 dBm>–85 dBm>–90 dBm>–95 dBm>–100 dBm>–110 dBm>–120 dBm<–120 dBm

54 Mb/s

11 Mb/s

Figure 1: Signal booster installed at building’s gate to fill ‘nulls and voids’

Figure 2: Passive distributed antenna system

Figure 3: Hybrid system using radiatingcable and in-line BDAs

Figure 4: Hybrid system using fiber-optic network and repeaters

Figure 5a: Conventional WiFi access points provide

basic coverage (9 WiFi access points plus Ethernet cable).

Figure 5b: WINS infrastructure founded on radiating

cable provides improved coverage for WiFi (3 Wifi

access points plus radiating cable).

master unit

remote unit

difficult to install cables vertically through the

building levels. Fiber-fed systems can also accom-

modate WiFi on the same infrastructure.

WiFi is the next waveThe ability of WINS infrastructures to meet the

needs of WiFi is essential in view of the

increasing number of consumers who expect

their dual-mode WiFi/3G handsets to operate

effectively. Although basic WiFi access points

provide basic coverage (Figure 5a), they do not

provide homogeneous coverage or network

security.

WINS systems can be used to provide either

dedicated WiFi coverage or an integrated

service with both 2G and 3G mobile

communications services. This is achieved

by using cables, antennas and WiFi combiners to

distribute the WiFi access points throughout

an area. Whether the WINS infrastructure is

founded on radiating cable to provide

contoured coverage (Figure 5b) or a network of

distributed point-source antennas, the solution

offers savings of up to 20 percent on deployment

costs—with better and more homogeneous

coverage. In addition, aesthetics and interference

can be properly managed.

In view of these many applications, indoor

and in-tunnel infrastructure often need to

support services that operate at specific

frequency ranges. Radiating cables carry a wide

span of frequencies, depending on the

application. These range from low radio

frequency identification (RFID) frequencies,

75 MHz for safety services, 800 to 2100 MHz for

commercial mobile communications services,

and up to 2.4 GHz and higher for WiFi

services. In the future, certain unlicensed

WiMAX frequencies could operate at

frequencies as high as 5.8 GHz in some parts

of the world.

WINS systems transmit these signals through

buildings, re-amplifying the signal as necessary.

They do not act as a substitute for a carrier’s

BTS, private branch exchange (PBX) and wireless

local area network (LAN) switches and access

points. Wireless coverage solutions do not add

anything to the signal except strength: they

transmit signals with non-proprietary and

technology-agnostic infrastructures.

share base station infrastructure between

systems operating with different standards,”

he says. This includes the co-location of

global system for mobile communications

(GSM) 900-MHz and code division multiple

access (CDMA) 800-MHz services, where

sophisticated RF filtering mitigates otherwise

debilitating interference.

“In these situations, RF conditioning provides

the ideal solution,” says Oliveira. “The real focus

at the moment is network optimization. In

Radio Frequency Systems designs and

manufactures an extensive and expanding

suite of RF conditioning components, including

tower-mounted amplifiers (TMA), high-

performance filters, duplexers and diplexers. To

meet the global demand for these technologies,

the company has just established its fourth

RF conditioning manufacturing facility in Embu,

Brazil—joining others in Denmark, China and the

USA. Officially opened in May 2006, the new

Brazil facility is in the prime position to support

the local Latin American market as it gears up for

third-generation (3G) services.

Booming marketsAccording to Luis Oliveira, RFS President for

Latin America, the region’s mobile markets are

already booming with 2G deployments. “Our RF

conditioning components are widely used

throughout Latin America to enable carriers to

Defined by the applicationAt the end of the day, the quality and selection

of an indoor coverage solution is dependent

upon the user service or application’s specific

needs. High-data services (video) or real-time

requirements (voice) require optimum coverage

in order to avoid ruptures in communications, or

a slowing-down in transmission rates. Materials

used in construction must be taken into

account, as must the distance between the

signal source (BTS) and the building. Even the

shape of the structure itself—narrow and

confined or open-plan expanse—is influential.

Managing interference with other interior

applications is another key consideration—but

especially with security sensitive equipment or

medical devices. Of course, interference can

originate from outside also—such as WiMAX at

2.5 GHz interfering with WiFi indoors, or WiFi

networks being hacked into from external

buildings. All such interference and security

issues can be overcome or managed.

Already endeavoring to match the demands of

existing technology, the industry is becoming

cognizant of the necessity for future-proofing as

emergent technologies gain strength and favor.

Higher-frequency services—UMTS and WiMAX,

for example—may exhibit poor building

penetration, but will likely meet strong

consumer acceptance once they are widely

deployed. For property developers, owners and

managers, the availability of such services will be

an increasingly attractive selling point to

prospective purchasers, investors and tenants.

Solutions delivered by RFS, for example,

encompass: commercial services (2G/3G

and WiMAX-ready), transport and safety

applications (GSM-R, TETRA and FM), and WiFi

services. The type of solution—or system

architecture—is selected based on that which

will provide the optimum return on investment

(ROI).

The strong current wireless indoor market is

expected to be even more powered-up in years

to come, and traditional and new market

offerings (both licensed and unlicensed)

converge. New business models pushed by

managed communications services offerings,

and new free ‘skype-like’ approaches, will

propel the indoor market to centre-stage,

strategically and economically.

Accompanying the escalation of next-generation

mobile network deployment is the rise

in importance of network optimization

technologies. For reasons of practicality and

cost, most carriers are seeking to overlay new

networks on old; but that doesn’t mean they

are willing to compromise on performance. For

this reason, RF conditioning—the filtering,

amplification, combining of RF signals at base

station sites—is one of the industry’s fastest

growing RF technology areas.

1312

RF condit ioning gets a Lat in feel

W I R E L E S S I N D O O R S O L U T I O N S R F CO N D I T I O N I N G

With the global demand for network optimization components on the rise, RFS launches its fourth RF conditioning manufacturingfacility in Embu, São Paulo, Brazil.

some parts of Latin America there are very

few greenfield sites left, so carriers are seeking

to utilize existing sites and infrastructure

while optimizing network capacity and

performance.”

RFS has custom-designed and supplied a

vast quantity of RF filters to meet GSM 900/

CDMA 800 co-location needs in Latin America;

however, the first products manufactured at the

new São Paulo RF conditioning facility were

TMAs to support the 1900-MHz and dual

800/1900-MHz bands. Essential for amplifying

the uplink signal for high-speed wireless

data services, these TMAs will have ongoing

application not only in Latin America, but also

in the USA.

“TMAs are among the most important of site

optimization products,” says Ivan Jensen,

RFS Vice President Industrial and Quality,

RF Conditioning. “The São Paulo facility will

complement our US manufacturing facility as

major network deployments occur in the States.

It’s effectively doubled our TMA manufacturing

capacity in the Americas. However, there’s

plenty of room for expansion, so ultimately we’ll

be producing a much wider range of products

in Brazil. The next ones will probably be a

diplexer product for the Latin American market

and a duplexer product for Nextel in the US.”

High-purity environmentThe new RF conditioning manufacturing facility

is conveniently located across the road from

RFS’s existing facility in the Embu district of São

Paulo, Brazil. “One of the main challenges

was achieving the high-purity environment

required in the time available,” Jensen says.

“RF conditioning assembly requires controlled

temperatures, filtered air and ESD protection

everywhere electronics components are being

handled or manufactured. There’s no way you

could produce these components in the same

manufacturing environment where you make

cables and antennas!”

A key factor in ensuring the rapid deployment

of the facility was the close partnering between

the Brazilian and US RF conditioning teams. In

addition to providing advice about the special

manufacturing environment, the US team was

responsible for training the Brazilian engineers

and assembly technicians at RFS’s Meriden

facility. The result, according to Oliveira, was

perfect. “Both teams did an excellent job in

a very short period,” he says. “It was an

impressive demonstration of how RFS can

achieve new production goals in a tight

timeframe.”

The new São Paulo facility takes RFS’s

commitment to local engineering, service

and support to the next level. Local manufactur-

ing of RF conditioning equipment (in addition

to transmission line and base station antennas)

both minimizes lead times of these increasingly

important components and ensures that all

Latin American wireless carriers have ready

access to technical expertise and advice.

“RF conditioning is more about system

engineering, integration and optimization,”

Oliveira sums up. “That is where RFS excels.”

To meet the global demand for RF conditioning

technologies, RFS has established its fourth

manufacturing facility in Embu, Brazil.

Next to the mobile handset, the wireless base station antenna

is probably the most visible evidence of the relentless march of

mobile communications. The sheer number of base station sites

found in cities, towns and rural centers around the globe bear

testament to the increasingly RF-nature of modern

communications. Yet in many respects the base station

antenna—essentially a passive element for transmitting and

receiving RF—has changed little over the past few years.

“In effect, we have reached the limits of the laws of

physics for the passive element itself,” explains Patrick Nobileau, Global

Product Manager, Station Antenna Systems with Radio Frequency Systems.

“But this doesn’t mean development has stalled—quite the contrary. What

we are seeing now is entirely new functionality being integrated into the

base station antenna, so that the antenna —the core passive element—is

evolving into a very powerful ‘antenna system’.”

This integration of active and intelligent elements with the passive has

spawned the development of a range of important next-generation antenna

systems. These include compact cluster assemblies combining multi-band

passive and active RF elements, a wide range of so-called ‘smart’ antennas,

the much lauded multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) solutions, and

even fiber-to-the-tower-top antenna systems (remote radio head (RRH)).

Integration driversThe drivers behind the push to the next stage in base station

antenna evolution are entirely market-related and primarily

target wringing more capacity and coverage from existing base station

infrastructure. Commercial pressures—particularly in the more mature

wireless markets—are top of the list, according to Tero Mustala, who

is Director of Industry Cooperation, in the Strategy & Technology

Division of leading wireless sector OEM Nokia, and Chairperson of the

industry group the Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (OBSAI).

“There is great cost pressure on everybody. The whole industry is seeking ways

to be more cost competitive. Carriers are heavily looking at operational

costs, but also demanding increasing efficiency in investments,” Mustala

says. “From an OEM point of view, standardization of the basic building

First introduced onto the market in mid-2005, the

complete range of feeder cables and associated

connectors is now available globally. Cable sizes

range from 7/8, 1-1/4 and 1-5/8-inch cable

diameters, with the 1-1/4-inch variant also

available in ‘ultra-flexible’ (UCF) format.

CELLFLEX ‘A’ Premium Attenuation series boasts

a dramatic improvement in attenuation

performance —typically between five and eight

percent when compared with conventional

foam dielectric coaxial cable.

Return loss (VSWR) is also reduced with the

CELLFLEX ‘A’ series RAPID FIT connector pair, which

delivers up to 6-dB improvement at 2.2 GHz.

Cable and connector pairs exhibit consistently

low and stable IM performance levels.

The connector size range matches all CELLFLEX ‘A’

series sizes, in both type N and 7-16 DIN interface.

CELLFLEX ‘A’ Premium Attenuation is available

in UV-resistant polyethylene (J) or flame and fire

retardant jackets (JFN).

While performance attributes are decisive issues,

the simple practicalities of site handling, ease of

installation—even the degree of supplier service

—remain determining factors in the selection

process.

“RFS was on-hand, on the ground, providing

local support and training to contractors and

installers. We found that, in the case of CELLFLEX

‘A’ Premium Attenuation, the cable’s inherent

flexibility, inbuilt mechanical strength and crush-

resistance allowed ‘lay-and-leave’ installation.

No special treatment was required—even where

the installation crews themselves were relatively

inexperienced. When a cable fails mechanically,

or when a connection has to be re-done, time and

money is lost. We had no such issues in the case of

CELLFLEX ‘A’ Premium Attenuation,” said Colón.

Although the cellular market penetration—

around 40 percent—is on a par with the rest of

the US, the Puerto Rican market is very different

to the mainland, where Cingular also holds a

leading position.

According to Colón, local carriers rely

on special offers such as free incoming

calls, free calls on weekends or evenings

to attract subscribers. “Puerto Ricans

love to talk. With the large number of

local users, their unbridled cellular-phone

use and the soon arrival of data-intensive

3G services, it is essential that we

minimize our back-end costs in order to

offer high-speed, high-quality services

and unique offerings that differentiate

us from the competition,” Colón said.

“We intend to retain our local market

dominance and one way to ensure this is by

maintaining sites that are economically run

because they are so well-designed. We will only

be the best network in Puerto Rico if we deploy

the best transmission systems.”

Like many countries with an aging fixed line

infrastructure, the US territory and Caribbean

island of Puerto Rico has enthusiastically embraced

cellular technology as a way of ‘leap-frogging’

to 21st century communications systems. Of

the five carriers vying for a slice of this tropical

pie, the largest is Cingular Puerto Rico—a

company keen to maintain its market leadership

position through the provision of affordable,

desirable subscriber services.

In hotly contested cellular marketplaces,

subscribers are won, retained and lost on the

quality and capacity of carrier systems—especially

as carriers move towards meeting the increased

network demands of 3G services.

As Cingular Puerto Rico is well aware, the

installation of optimum transmission line

technology—and its capex/opex implications—

has never been more critical.

In the town of Ponce, on the island’s southern

coast, Cingular Puerto Rico recently undertook

rigorous comparative trials of competitive

transmission lines at its new Merceditas base

transmitter station (BTS) site. The scope of the

trial encompassed installation considerations,

durability (especially important in Puerto Rico’s

tumultuous weather patterns) and performance

parameters. The trials, run over several months,

were completed in December 2005, with site

manager Alexander Colón reporting favorably

on the performance of RFS’s new CELLFLEX ‘A’

Premium Attenuation transmission line.

“We conducted extensive transmission line tests,

including attenuation, voltage standing wave ratio

(VSWR), distance-to-fault and intermodulation

performance using CELLFLEX ‘A’ 1-5/8-inch

diameter cable operating at 1800 MHz,” Colón

said. “CELLFLEX ‘A’ Premium Attenuation cable

ably met our requirements.”

1514

RFS’s CELLFLEX ‘A’ Premium Attenuationtransmission line was put to the testduring recent trials in Puerto Rico. Easeof installation and inbuilt mechanicalstrength were noted product advantages.

CELLFLEX ‘A’ Premium Attenuation is proving to be a ‘towering’ success in Latin America.

CELLFLEX ‘A’ Premium Attenuation: Facts and figures

Puerto Rico tr ia la ‘C ingular ’ success

F E E D E R S Y S T E M S

The ubiquitous wireless base station antennatakes the next step in its evolution —one thatsees the ‘antenna’ become an ‘antenna system’,with integrated functionality that transforms itfar beyond its passive roots.

W I R E L E S S S O L U T I O N S

Base stat ion antenna’s evolut ion of integrat ion

courtesy of the almost loss-free ‘BTS-to-

tower-top’ fiber link.

The new unit’s ‘3-Gbps plus’ total throughput

capacity ensures that the RRH is well-placed to

support powerful RRH networking topologies,

such as ‘daisy chain’, ‘ring’ and ‘tree-and-branch’.

According to Mustala, the OBSAI model was a vital

element in allowing this particular

development—and others like it—to proceed to

completion. “The OBSAI specifically devised the

interface standard needed to support the RRH,”

he says. “We initially had one version of

the baseband-to-radio module interface for the

classical construction—our RP3 interface. Then,

two years ago, we devised what we called the

RP3-01 interface, which made allowance for a

remote tower-top mounted RF block, with all the

data and controls identified through an optical

interface. This was specifically with the RRH

solution in mind.”

Getting smarterThe third and potentially most important base

station antenna technical advancement is one

that is actually far removed from the antenna

itself—the improvement in data processing

power and costs. “We are seeing data process-

ing at the ‘back end’ of the base station being

used to provide extremely powerful solutions—

simply with the existing antennas that the carrier

has in place—all courtesy of low-cost processing

power,” Nobileau explains.This, he points out, is

what is behind the new wave of MIMO antennas,

smart antennas and so on.

“Today, every carrier has his own site for his

own system. In the future, we can foresee a

situation where these antennas are ‘modularized’

access (CDMA) 2000, global system for mobile

communication (GSM), wideband CDMA

(W-CDMA), WiMAX and so on.

In the simplest of terms, such a cooperative

venture base station model helps cut the R&D

development time and effort for all players involved

in base station deployment and upgrade. This,

according to Tero Mustala, is particularly important

for the active base station component chip set

developers. “R&D investment at the silicon interface

can be sizeable. If a vendor doesn’t see enough

prospective sales volume for a chip set, it is hard

to justify the R&D. As a result, one of the great

successes of the OBSAI has been to bring in and

assist the silicon companies,” Mustala says.

Significantly, the OBSAI-inspired spirit of

cooperation is behind one of the great recent

successes in the realm of antenna functionality

integration—a remote radio head (RRH).

This RRH is the result of a joint development

initiative between four OBSAI members:

RFS, programmable silicon solutions provider,

Altera Corporation, broadband communications

and storage semiconductor provider, PMC-

Sierra, and measurement company, Agilent

Technologies.

Working strictly to the defined OBSAI model, the

new RRH provides ‘3-Gbps plus’ fiber optic

cable connectivity between the base station and

the tower top, by relocating a portion of the ‘RF

Block’ module from the base station to the tower

top. This permits BTS-to-antenna separation

distances of up to 15 kilometers (9.5 miles), and

allows the BTS to be located in more easily

acquired sites, remote from the mast and radio

head/antenna assembly. In addition, the RRH

fiber-optic link offers ongoing opex savings,

high levels of reliability. It has also permitted the

development of all-in-one antenna assemblies —

antennas with built-in RF amplification and filter-

ing, plus electrical tilt and azimuth beam control

systems, all within a single radome. This, in

turn, has inspired the development of advanced

‘cluster’ antenna assemblies, accommodating

the active and passive RF elements required for

a complete tri-sector tower top, in a low-profile

and visually low-impact package.

The general improvement in the performance

and packaging size of active tower-top

components, coupled with compact multi- and

broadband antennas, has facilitated the support

of multiple bands at the tower top. “Quality base

station sites the world over are increasingly

difficult to secure, so the need to concurrently

support multiple bands and multiple services

from a single site is great. This is particularly

so with the advent of 3.5-generation

(3.5G) technologies such as worldwide

interoperability for microwave access

(WiMAX),” says Nobileau. “Multi-band

active and passive RF antenna systems

have truly relieved this situation.”

Industry cooperation and the RRHStreamlining and simplifying such site

overlays is one aspect that drives the

OBSAI industry group. The development

of pan-industry groups such as

OBSAI—which are founded on technical

cooperation between traditional industry

competitors—represents a powerful

shift in attitude across the wireless

industry. Inaugurated in late-2002,

OBSAI set out to establish a more open

base station market based on pre-

determined standard modules and

interfaces.

Today, Nokia and around 130 other

leading OEMs, carriers, and technology

suppliers to the wireless industry form the

membership of this important industry group. Its

company members have produced and made

available a complete set of open interface and

module hardware connectivity specifications

addressing the four key base station subsystems:

transport, control and clock, baseband and

RF/radio (see figure 1). Importantly, the model

defines not only the modules, but also the

interfaces between these modules. The model is

also ‘technology-neutral’, so aims to be equally

applicable to the entire spectrum of wireless

platforms, including code division multiple

blocks of base station architecture is a clear and

important way of addressing this situation, as it

helps reduce the R&D costs.” This, he points out,

is a core objective of the OBSAI group, with the

base station antenna being incorporated within

this standardization.

From this cost-reduction perspective, there is a

general push from the carriers to “achieve more

from what they have”, particularly with respect to

base station sites and spectrum. This optimization

push is made all the more challenging by the

ever-increasing need for more capacity from

existing network infrastructure. “Firstly, the total

number of subscribers in almost all parts of the

world is still growing,” Nobileau says. “But

there is also a shift from voice traffic to data

services. Wireless data, by its very nature, is

dramatically increasing the bits per second

throughput demand on wireless networks.”

In addition to this increase in capacity

demand, the move from voice to data has created

a noticeable change in the specific nature of the

mobile traffic being supported. “Voice is

essentially statistically predictable in terms of

throughput demand,” explains André Doll, RFS

Global Product Manager RF Conditioning.

“High-speed wireless data, by contrast, creates

unpredictable peak demands.” These peaks can

lead to base transmitter station (BTS) saturation,

if not adequately accommodated.

“It is a double-edged sword for today’s carrier,”

Doll says. “This data-driven peak traffic

represents revenue, but is also the source of

an unpredictable capacity demand and

network pressure. They [the carriers] need

to find ‘tricks’ to optimize the use of their

existing sites and spectrum.” The new

generation of base station antenna systems

with integrated functionality is a vital part

of such optimization solutions.

Change in technology; change in attitudeThree distinct developments—two technical,

one attitudinal—have paved the way for new

antenna system functionality. The first is the

long-awaited development of reliable, high-

performance and compact outdoor electronics;

the second is the dramatic fall in the cost of data

processing power, underpinning increasingly

elaborate signal processing algorithms. Last, is a

wave of cooperation across the industry that is

permitting BTS interface standardization, both at

the macro and elemental level.

The improvement in the performance of outdoor

electronics over the past few years—most

particularly component reliability—has caused a

noticeable shift in the attitude of carriers to

‘active tower tops’. “Carriers plan very carefully

what they build in the tower structure. They

look very closely at the reliability of products

when they are mounted on the tower,”

Mustala points out. “Historically, they have

been very apprehensive about building active

electronics at the tower top, because they know

that if there is maintenance needed, it will

be costly.”

Key in this area has been the improvement

achieved in power amplifier (PA) efficiencies,

which have permitted new levels of

miniaturization and reliability. The

power amplifier is central to

tower-top active technologies,

including tower-mount boosters

(TMBs), and the remote radio

head (RRH). “Five years ago, a

Multi-Carrier Power Amplifier

(MCPA) had an efficiency of

between eight and ten

percent,” says Doll. “As a

result, a booster offering

20-watt RF output power

would have required

around 400 watts of power

dissipation, considering

the additional loss of the

passive elements of the booster.” The inherent

heat generated within such devices would have

demanded over-sized casings, external cooling

and made the mean time between failures

(MTBF) unacceptably low.

Improvements in design efficiencies and

electronics has resulted in PAs with efficiencies

between 15 and 25 percent. “This means you

can divide the power dissipation by three,” says

Doll, “which means one-third the quantity of

silicon, roughly one-third the unit size, and

more than three times the reliability.”

This has permitted the development of compact

tower-top active equipment, offering extremely

1716

TransportBlock

TransportBlock

BaseBandBlock

RFBlock

LocalConverter

Remote RFBlock

Control andClock BlockPower

GeneralPurposemodule

AirInterface

AirInterface

ExternalNetworkInterface

RP2 RP3 RP3-01

RP1

OBSAI Base Station Architecture

ControlTrafficClockPower

Figure 1: The OBSAI base station architecture model

between the carriers. By using data processing

power, multiple carriers could obtain optimal

performance from a select shared antenna

group,” he says. MIMO, he points out, is an

example of such reuse of multiple signals received

by multiple antennas on a site. Multiple inputs

and outputs are ‘regrouped’—via software—to

contribute to one optimal signal. The essential

element of such systems will always be the

complex signal processing algorithms at the

antenna system ‘back end’.

Similar, is the so-called ‘smart antenna’. Founded

on equally elaborate back-end signal processing

algorithms to that of MIMO, these emerging solutions

optimize beam patterns from one, or a group of

antennas, on a real-time basis to maximize

subscriber throughput and minimize interference.

A core driver of these more advanced, software-

powered antenna solutions is WiMAX—a

platform that, according to André Doll, will

exhibit entirely unique coverage requirements

and an equally unique carrier profiles. “With

WiMAX, carriers will seek ‘hot-spot’ rather than

national coverage,” he says. “You are really

trying to optimize where the people are going

to use the service. Similarly, WiMAX carriers

may not be traditional mobile phone carriers.

From this perspective, they will not have the

luxury of leveraging an existing suite of sites.”

These unique differentiators make WiMAX

deployment an entirely different challenge in

the wireless world, and set new demands in

RF optimization. Almost certainly, there will be

specific needs for RF boosters, RRHs and smart

or MIMO solutions at many sites. Further

cooperation and joint venturing will also be a

must—and is one that the OBSAI group is ready

for. The most recent addition to its model is the

WiMAX specific detail. The group is now looking

to the future, where the next logical amendment

to the model would be one supporting the

3GPP’s long-term evolution (LTE) platform.

Emerging broadband wireless platforms, such as

high-speed packet access (HSPA), WiMAX, and LTE,

will almost certainly spawn currently unthought-of

of levels of antenna system functionality and

integration. “My belief is that MIMO may

actually compete with entirely new antenna

standardizations, due to the emerging needs of

such 3.5G technologies,” Nobileau says. The

antenna ‘system’ is now clearly a reality, and in

some respects, the stand-alone ‘passive antenna’

fast becoming a thing of the past, spurred on

by the relentless demands of the wireless

broadband world.

W I R E L E S S S O L U T I O N S

As part of the final development stage of an ‘orbital’ motorway

in Sydney, Australia, diversified services and infrastructure

development group, United Group Infrastructure, will use Radio

Frequency Systems’ wireless indoor solutions (WINS), to create an

in-tunnel emergency radio system, as well as a public radio and

commercial radio rebroadcast system. The Lane Cove Tunnel is the

final stretch of an orbital motorway that will join Sydney’s

northern M2 motorway to its Gore Hill freeway, and will include

twin-bore 3.6-kilometer (2-mile) tunnels. Scheduled for completion

in 2007, the tunnel will reduce motorists’ travel time to and from

Sydney’s central business district and northern suburbs.

Each tunnel will be equipped with a customized emergency system

designed to support the Government Radio Network (GRN), police

radio and Road Traffic Authority radio services, as well as the

public and commercial radio rebroadcast services.

Operating at 400 to 490 MHz, the tunnel emergency radio

system will use approximately seven kilometers (four miles) of RFS

RADIAFLEX RLK radiating cable to facilitate RF coverage through

the tunnels. For optimal safety, the system will include RFS’s JFLA

cable jackets, which are halogen free and are flame- and fire-

retardant. The same cable is used for FM radio coverage.

The Lane Cove Tunnel emergency radio will be the third RFS WINS

solution of its kind to be incorporated into Sydney’s fast-growing

transport network. Dominic Lobriza, RFS Technical Sales Manager,

believes the Lane Cove Tunnel project demonstrates a key

differentiator of RFS’s approach—its commitment to on-going

technical support, through design, construction and long after the

installation is completed.

“RFS’s ongoing technical support ensures that the system is accurately

assembled, and that safety measures are translated from design

to installation,” he said. “We extend this steadfast approach to

system maintenance, ensuring that the system retains its safety and

communications capabilities through the life of the installation.”

Radio Frequency Systems’ commitment to

customer service often extends beyond the

design, provision and maintenance of its own

product set. It is constantly on the lookout for

innovative ideas with bottom-line benefits,

particularly in the field of on-site installation

solutions and accessories.

For years, installers and wireless carriers alike

have muttered about the problems and hassles

associated with the traditional metal cable

trays commonly used on base station rooftop

installations. Surprisingly, it took someone with

no previous telecoms background to come up

with the ideal solution—a solution developed in

consultation with telecoms providers and now

distributed exclusively through RFS in Europe.

Topsy-turvy in the Hamburg SubwayCommunication in time: When the FIFA Soccer World Cup starts, it will be possible

—via your mobile phone—to get the latest football results, download video-clips,

or simply exchange phone calls, down in the Hamburg subway. Vodafone, T-Mobile,

O2, Radio Frequency Systems and the Hamburg Hochbahn have worked together

to realize this important metro coverage, at a total investment of six million

Euros. In the course of this project almost 50 kilometers of RFS RADIAFLEX

radiating cable was installed.

In the Vodafone network alone, around 10,000 calls are completed every day—

now everyone can enjoy total coverage in the subway. By using RADIAFLEX

cable—which simply functions as a distributed antenna system—consistent and

premium coverage is realized in the tunnel and at all stations. “This cable has

been installed in the whole tunnel,” says Bernhard Wendorff, RFS Global Key

Account Manager for Vodafone. The color of the cable has been adapted to the

stations, and most importantly, the RADIAFLEX cable is fire-retardant—a crucial

aspect when it comes to in-tunnel security.

Not only is mobile telephony possible in the Hamburg underground: by accessing

the in-tunnel universal mobile telecommunications systems (UMTS) and high-speed

downlink packet access (HSDPA) services, commuters can enjoy high-speed data-

transfers. Hamburg is one of the first cities in Germany that offers this kind of service.

The Hamburg Hochbahn hopes to get more satisfied customers by offering better

in-tunnel coverage: “It is a bonus for us that our passengers can use their mobiles

without any interruptions while traveling in the subway. But not only our

customers benefit from this investment—the digital radio services of the

Hochbahn, police and fire department can also make use of the new network,”

points out Gernot von Bargen, project manager at Hochbahn.

Vodafone Project Manager, Bernd Meyn, is very satisfied with the whole project:

“We started to plan this project back in 2003. It was a very challenging project

for us all. Over the four phases of construction, we installed a total of 57 amplifiers

in order to cover, not only the subway itself, but also the 38 stations.”

Roland Neumann, Manager Network Development at O2, has enjoyed good co-

operation between all the companies involved: “Now we are happy to offer the latest

development in cellular phone networks in the subway of the city of Hamburg.”

1918

Great idea is recycled

In-tunnel radioon Sydney orbitalmotorway

NEWSFLASHWorld Cup coverage in Hamburg Metro

I N T O U C H

How Radio Frequency Systems’ customers perceive RFS and itsservices is often interesting. The joint news report (below) wasissued by RFS customers Vodafone and O2 on the eve of the 2006FIFA World Cup series in June and July this year—it providesinteresting insight.

Radio Frequency Systems was recently awarded

a ground-breaking contract for Line 4 of the

Beijing Subway. The in-tunnel solution will

support a TETRA essential radio system.

Mostly underground, Line 4 is approximately

27 kilometers (16 miles) long and stretches

from Longbeicun at the Summer Palace, to

Majialou in south Beijing. Construction

commenced in 2004 and the line—a joint

venture between Beijing Metro and Hong

Kong’s MTR Corporation—is scheduled to

open in late 2009. Get the full story in the

next issue of STAY CONNECTED.

Line 4 commences from Longbeicun

at the Summer Palace, pictured.

This edition of STAY CONNECTED is the 32nd since the

first issue was published in 1998. As the ‘flagship’ publication for

Radio Frequency Systems, it has been editorial policy to ensure that

its readers–15,000 in more than 100 countries–are the first

to know of new products, technological advances, market and

industry developments and events: wherever they happen.

The viewpoint of STAY CONNECTED is as global as the

company and the RF industry it supports.

To ensure that this magazine continues to address

the important issues impacting on your sector, we

invite you to take a few moments to complete our Online

Reader Survey. Simply go to www.rfsworld.com and click

onto the STAY CONNECTED eZine. The first 500 qualified

participants to complete the survey form will receive our

special edition LiteMouse–your personal gift from

RFS…the lighter side of wireless.

George Johnson, Executive Sales Manager, RFS

UK, had the idea for a recycled PVC cable tray

when he worked as a management consultant

on the Continent. His concept—known as

CableCarr—took shape after lengthy discussions

with wireless carriers.

CableCarr installation—incorporating

CableCarr ECObridge—at Dublin Airport.

Construction underway at the new twin-bore 3.6-kilometer

(2-mile) Lane Cove Tunnel in Sydney, Australia.

New in-tunnel project for Beij ingSubway

“CableCarr is environmentally-friendly, UV-stable

and non-biodegradable. It is also durable, resilient

and maintenance-free; when lidded, CableCarr

can be walked on. For these features alone, the

system is a vast improvement on metal

counterparts. But it is in ease of installation

that CableCarr really comes into its own as a

cost-cutting alternative,” Johnson said.

“With the strength of CableCarr’s lid, there’s no

need to construct and fit expensive steel

step-overs. Because it doesn’t require anchoring

to concrete blocks, there is no noisy and time-

consuming hammer-drilling. In fact, CableCarr

installation can be completed in around one-tenth

the time of legacy systems, and cable install

time can be reduced by up to 70 percent.

“With a unit cost now on a par with metal tray

systems, those installation, labor and maintenance

savings go straight to the profit margin.”

CableCarr has technical approval from all five UK

carriers and has been given ‘preferred solution’

status by Orange. Still relatively new to the market,

CableCarr cable management systems have

already been installed in networks throughout

the British Isles, Ireland, France and Holland.

Environmentally-friendly, durable and

maintenance-free, CableCarr does the job on a

Birkenhead rooftop in England.

Cl ick, t ick… and win!