Network operators deploy these compact base stations to improve cellular reception and add capacity in specific indoor environments like offices, shopping malls, or train stations. They typically cover a range of up to 200 meters and support a few dozen simultaneous active users. The unit connects back to the core network via a standard broadband internet connection.
Heard on the job
We need to install a picocell in the basement parking garage because the macro network signal drops to zero down there.
Do not mix it up with
- Femtocell: A femtocell is even smaller, typically meant for a single home or small office, while a picocell covers a larger enterprise space.