Active Antennas: The Tonic for Network Densifications?

April 19, 2016

By Ernest Worthman

April 19, 2016 — Active antenna units, (AAUs), devices that contain active electronic components (vs. passive) are becoming all the rage in next-generation antennas.

AAUs promise to up the ante for antenna sites because they use active components, to compensate for antenna/frequency mismatch. This makes AAUs the “one size fits all” solution for many different antenna applications – from pico to macro.

AAUs can be deployed on multimode networks with multi-frequency bands. This is a real boon to installations that are space constrained or location challenged (such as small cell street furniture locations). AAUs promise simplified construction, which will help operators build greener and more efficient mobile broadband networks. AAUs can be a real boon to deployments because they can be quickly installed on poles, walls and other public facilities in urban areas, densifying network site resources while saving real estate and upfront costs.

AAUs promise to usher in a new era for base station technology and lay out an evolutionary path for future radio frequency units.