Modernization of the Cellular Network in Cities

When you buy something for your home, a washing machine or, say, a coffee maker, you of course, expect that it will serve you for a long time, but you can hardly seriously hope that it will last forever. Sooner or later, the new thing will need to be replaced. With base stations (BS), which operators are erecting everywhere, the story is about the same: sometimes it is necessary to carry out a “subbotnik” there, sometimes a major overhaul, and from time to time one equipment must be replaced with another. MTS regularly carries out such works at its “towers”. From your side, it is reasonable to ask what will happen to mobile communications if the equipment is changed at the BS near you?

Why do I need to update the equipment?

Outdated equipment is inferior to modern equipment in terms of reliability and ease of maintenance. The update will allow the same base station to serve more subscribers, speed up mobile Internet, and improve the quality of voice communications. Modern cellular network towers require maintenance and in such case, you can contact Communication tower repair. 

Owners of smartphones with HD-Voice technology will be able to talk more often with a friend from across the city and hear him as well as if he is in the next room. This technology has been operating in 3G networks all over Russia for quite a long time, and the equipment upgrade will allow getting higher voice quality in GSM networks with greater coverage.

Finally, the new equipment has lower power consumption. This means that the base station will be able to work offline for longer if the main power supply is lost – for example, due to a broken wire.

What Happens During the Upgrade Process?

Most often, transceivers, antennas, and sometimes cables connecting them are replaced.

How long does it take?

In most cases, new equipment is first installed, then old equipment is prepared for dismantling. The very process of switching from one to the other takes 2-3 hours. Sometimes it takes additional time to set up the installed hardware.

Does the equipment update take place at once on the entire city network? That is, the entire local MTS network will not work for several hours?

Not. The equipment is being modernized gradually, so that the temporarily disabled base station can be replaced by neighboring ones. This is the case in most cases.

Moreover, if your phone supports several mobile communication standards (GSM / 3G / 4G), then the temporary unavailability of one of them does not negate the ability to use the services using the same base station being updated at the moment. Voice calls can be transmitted using GSM and 3G standards, and mobile Internet is provided by 3G and 4G. Modules that are responsible for different standards at base stations are rarely turned off at the same time.

Is the equipment upgrade somehow related to tariff changes?

No.

How often do you need to update your hardware?

As with the washing machine in your home, this depends on several factors. You do not know in advance how long the equipment will work, but your family may be replenished, and you will have to wash more. It may seem to you that the car you bought is not spacious enough or too loud. In the end, you may very, very much like another washing machine in terms of its capabilities and convenience. The reasons are clear, but it is impossible to name even an approximate time frame.