T-Mobile USA will shift its network construction focus from building out new markets to enhancing its quality in areas of existing coverage. The plan includes the deployment of “pico-basestations” to improve coverage inside buildings. The new technology — which T-Mobile USA describes as the world’s smallest basestation, has been developed by ip.access based in Cambridge, England, a subsidiary of TTP Communications plc. It uses a building’s existing Ethernet infrastructure to enable the small base stations to deliver service in a “pico-point” to where the service is actually needed. Deployment will begin this year.
T-Mobile USA said it is also working to improve its network by adding 1,000 new macro-sites in the remaining months of this year; deploying new AMR “vocoder” equipment in Q4 to improve call quality across the national network; conducting a massive network optimization program in major markets to enhance calling experiences; and roaming partnerships to extend coverage to rural towns and highway corridors.
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