How does a small cell base station affect a smartphone's battery life?

When a mobile device is close to a small-cell base station, the power needed to transmit the signal is much lower compared to the power needed to transmit a signal from a cell tower far away, thus extending smartphone battery life.

What is a small cell in 5G?

Small cells are a new part of the 5G platform that increase network capacity and speed, while also having a lower deployment cost than macrocells. The compact size of a small cell requires that all components – especially power converters – provide high eficiency, better thermals and eventually the best power density possible.

Where does power come from in a small cell?

In a small cell, the power requirements come from the analog front end (AFE), field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that needs power. While every designer does it a little bit differently,

What is a small cell radio?

Telecommunications equipment manufacturers have taken traditional macro radio designs and shrunk them down into what’s called a small cell. Small cells are smaller and cheaper than a cell tower and can be installed in a variety of areas, bringing more base stations closer to users.

Why are small cells better than a cell tower?

Small cells are smaller and cheaper than a cell tower and can be installed in a variety of areas, bringing more base stations closer to users. A large number of base stations increases the number of people a network can support, while reduced distance to users decreases latency, enabling even faster connectivity.

What are picocells & microcells?

Above picocells are microcells, also called metrocells. Microcells are common on light poles or atop buildings in dense urban areas. Another way to differentiate between the different types of small cells is by their radio frequency (RF) power output, which can dictate the coverage radius and number of users.