Don't Overreact to Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio

By Richard P. Biby P.E.
Publisher
AGL magazine
Physics was not changed by this device. It is nothing more than a better-integrated pico cell, which allows a few possibilities for future technology advancements (such as integrating into a smart antenna).

This is nothing new. It is a better integrated package than existed before. This lightRadio is a base station integrated into a single package, just like a pico cell. It is frequency dependent; you need one cube per frequency band and technology. It has the same limitations as any other base station - it needs backhaul, power, backup power and it needs to be installed, serviced and integrated into a network.

Should it be used as the "brains" or base transmitter station function for a macro cell, it would require additional amplifiers, coax or fiber capabilities to get up to the antennas or remote radio head on top of the tower and the same on-the-ground base station type of equipment. Should it be used simply as a more-efficient base station, not much really changes from the perspective of a tower company. Really, the only change to a traditional tower site (and this is a good thing) is that the energy efficiency of the overall base station could be greatly increased.

The opportunities for companies to develop services businesses around the design, deployment and maintenance of a large number of these devices is something to consider.

It may be a little more disruptive to the rooftop management model - as rooftops are used more in dense urban areas and the lightRadio technology will be well suited to provide coverage in urban areas. Again, it is likely more of an opportunity to build and maintain additional network points of presence than a threat.

The opportunity to build and maintain additional network points of presence could be the future of the tower business. I've been a big believer that the tower companies are going to want to operate networks for carriers - this kind of antenna could likely be more costly to build and have greater wind/ice loading, etc., such that carriers may want to jointly build and operate a site in the future. To me, that is a migration for the industry in the next 20 years. You may lose a broadband-equivalent (BBE) renter, but if you own the network you can more than make up for it in monthly services. Just my crazy engineering look at things.

It is just not a game changer. At least, not immediately.