picocell

A Picocell is wireless communication system covering a small area, such as in building offices, shopping malls, train stations, or aircraft. A picocell is analogous to a WiFi Access Point.

In cellular wireless networks, such as GSM, a picocell base station is a low cost, small (typically A4 paper size, 2-3cm thick), reasonably simple unit that connects to a Base Station Controller (BSC). Multiple picocell heads connect to each BSC: the BSC performs radio resource management and hand over functions, and aggregates data to be passed to the Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) and/or the GPRS Support Node (GSN).

Connectivity between picocell heads and the BSC typically consists of in building wiring. Although originally deployed systems (90s) utilised PDH links such as E1/T1 links, more recent systems utilise Ethernet cabling.

In cellular networks, picocells are typically used to extend coverage to indoor areas where outdoor signals do not reach well, or to add network capacity in areas with very dense phone usage, such as train stations.

Plane maker Airbus, carried a two-year investigation, to make it possible to use a mobile on a plane, Airbus installed a picocell that creates a small mobile phone cell onboard the aircraft.

The idea is to keep the signals low, by flying a mini phone mast in the plane. But each plane must pass stringent safety tests for electrical interference

More recent work has developed the concept towards a head unit containing not only a picocell, but also many of the functions of the BSC and some of the MSC. This form of picocell is called an Access point base station or Femtocell. In this case, the unit contains all the capability required to connect directly to the Internet, without the need for the BSC/MSC infrastructure. This is potentially a more cost effective approach.

The on-board technology, as some call piocells, is estimated by some to be a potential cause of more air rage. Just as many people find mobile phone use on trains and in cinemas annoying, some fear this will now be the case on aerplanes. In the past of course mobile phone usage was not really allowed on planes. Others say the new technology will be a great use for families, or friends, who want to contact people, and for businessmen.

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