While the telecommunications industry struggles to determine the best way to define them, small cells may actually be the biggest component of technology to handle the demands being put on wireless spectrum. According to a recent presidential panel, small cells are one way to get more out of radio spectrum that carry both wireless communications and valuable data.

Small cells, according to this New York Times blog, act as base stations that work to deliver wireless coverage to other, smaller areas. These appliances can be use in either residential or commercial settings by being installed in homes or offices or even mounted on a building's exterior to offer service at a public event.

The report emphasized that small cells don't consume large amounts of bandwidth from the local cell tower; instead they can be connected using a local broadband connection. They are attached just like cable Internet in a home or like the fiber connection at the office.

Small cells make up the difference between deployments. In a heavily deployed area like roads, for instance, small cells would allow more freedom from a neighboring cellular tower. The same quality of cell coverage would be maintained for those in their homes and workplaces. One would not take away from the other.

Symmetricom (News - Alert), one of the software developers for small cells technology, has an interesting take on their development. The company's vice president of marketing, Manish Gupta (News - Alert), said enacting small cells is very similar to adding a commuter lane. Creating this high-speed lane, small cells, allows for an increase for a majority of other users. More bits are simply being delivered.

To truly manage the spectrum, however, it is important to incorporate an effective way to share it. Besides small cells, the recent presidential report said to develop a spectrum management policy. Carriers could inevitably have access to spectrum not being used. The data compilation of this unused spectrum could serve other carriers and give those users the speed they need.

Instead of repurposing spectrum, the current United States' policy, experts are asking the government to consider the compilation to reuse the spectrum. Small cells would only assist this process. In doing so, it could enable users to take advantage of the spectrum quickly, according to research professors at the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute.

Enlisting the small cells and consolidation of unused spectrum would definitely allow carriers to accommodate the ever growing amount of smart devices hitting the market. Smartphone and tablets are coming on the scene at a record-setting pace, making it wise to empower a solution like smart cells to take on the radio waves and deliver the connectivity and broadband access users demand.

Want to learn more about today’s powerful mobile Internet ecosystem? Then be sure to attend the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo, collocated with ITEXPO West 2012 taking place Oct. 2-5 2012, in Austin, TX. Co-sponsored by TMC (News - Alert) Partner Crossfire Media the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo provides unmatched networking opportunities and a robust conference program representing the mobile ecosystem. The conference not only brings together the best and brightest in the wireless industry, it actually spans the communications and technology industry. For more information on registering for the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo click here.

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