Picochip, which provides technology products that enable new types of cellular (mobile) communications services, has estimated that Mobile Network Operators (MNO) in London (UK) will need to install an additional 70,000 small cells and 2,000 nodes covering the Underground network in order to deliver "genuinely world-class" superfast LTE (4G) based Mobile Broadband services across the capital by 2015.


Picochip, which this week presented its findings to the Bath Basestation Conference, obviously has a vested interest in such conclusions. However smaller cell sites, which for example could be positioned inside large shopping centres or smaller coffee shops, can often be cheaper than having to handle the costs and complications of big (macro) base stations. Then again.. 70,000!

The study also estimated that there would need to be more than 10 million small cells worldwide by end of 2015, in addition to residential femtocells. Picochip's report does perhaps underplay the role of Wi-Fi, which over the next few years is likely to get a major boost from fresh projects by Sky Broadband (BSkyB) and Virgin Media .