BELLEVUE, Wash.-T-Mobile USA Inc. said it will begin installing “pico-basestations” on its network in an attempt to improve in-building coverage.
The base stations, which were developed by TTP Communications plc subsidiary ip.access ltd., are expected to join a list of additional network enhancements, including the addition of 1,000 traditional base stations by the end of this year, AMR vocoder equipment designed to improve call quality, a network optimization program in major markets and additional roaming agreements.
“These enhancements make the best value in wireless even better for all T-Mobile customers; and the pico-basestations build on that to provide superior coverage on corporate campuses and to major buildings so that choosing T-Mobile gets to be an even easier decision for America’s businesses,” said Tim Wong, chief technology officer and executive vice president at T-Mobile USA.
Ip.access ltd. said it will supply its nanoGSM products, including base stations, base station controllers and management systems, to T-Mobile USA Inc. for use in its nationwide network under the multi-year contract.
The ip.access solution is designed to enhance in-building coverage by leveraging a building’s existing Ethernet infrastructure. “The ip.access solution is attractive from a number of viewpoints, not least of which is its use of IP, permitting a variety of cost-effective options for backhaul as well as enabling T-Mobile to improve coverage inside buildings simply and efficiently,” added Wong.