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BMW Aims to Help Mobile Network Capacity & Coverage with 'Vehicular CrowdCell'

BMW Aims to Help Mobile Network Capacity & Coverage with 'Vehicular CrowdCell' Image Credit: BMW Group

At the last MWC, BMW Group unveiled the 'Vehicular CrowdCell', a research project that can enhance the capacity and coverage of mobile radio networks, also extending the concept of the mobile femtocell. Last year, BMW Group, together with its partners peiker and Nash Technologies presented 'Vehicular Small Cell', a mobile femtocell that optimizes the reception available to mobile devices inside vehicles via the vehicle’s aerial. 

The rapid growth of mobile data traffic, e.g. due to the increasing use of multi-media services such as music or video streaming with mobile devices requires even more powerful mobile radio networks in the future, said BMW. One strategy to increase the capacity and coverage of future networks is the integration of a large number of small cells and relays in addition to the existing base stations. According to the company, this concept has been extended to create the “Vehicular CrowdCell” where based on data traffic and coverage demands, the mobile femtocells are dynamically activated to locally enhance mobile radio networks.

Sharing a use-case of the “Vehicular CrowdCells” for car-sharing fleets, in particular with electric vehicles, BMW said that a large number of vehicles spread over cities and regions could serve as local radio relays when parked. If one or more users are located close to a mobile femtocell, it is activated on demand in order to increase the bandwidth or provide additional network coverage. By doing this, the performance of the existing network can be dynamically optimized while mobile phone users benefit from a higher data rate and an absence of reception white spots – especially in areas where the signal coverage is low.

Dr Peter Ferti, Project Manager at the BMW Group
The “Vehicular Small Cell” will optimise in-vehicle connectivity of mobile devices for our customers. At the same time, the integration into a network of “Vehicular CrowdCells” will enable the ubiquitous and seamless availability of high-quality mobile radio connections outside the vehicle as well.

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

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