NTT DoCoMo Turns to Micro Base Stations to Speed 3G Rollout

NTT DoCoMo unveiled new micro base stations for its 3G network that are up to 1/30th the size of conventional base stations. The micro base stations have both outdoor and indoor applications. NTT DoCoMo said that for outdoor areas with low population densities, the stations’ low cost would enable it to install enough units to ensure necessary coverage on an economical basis. For indoor deployments in buildings and underground malls, where installation spaces are limited, an external antenna allows the stations to be placed out of the way without sacrificing signal strength. The company plans to have a total of 1,600 conventional and micro base stations in operation nationwide by the end of March 2004, and will increase this number to 3,000 by the end of March 2005.
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