Microcell

What Does Microcell Mean?

A microcell is a device in a cellular network that is linked to a tower and is used to enhance or extend the signal strength in a certain small area, often a public place. Different mobile network companies have different ranges of microcells attached to the towers, and the range can be controlled by varying the power supplied.

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Techopedia Explains Microcell

A microcell provides a small range of coverage for a cellular network in public places such as airports, malls and other crowded places where more people are connected to a single tower or within a single cell.

As opposed to a macrocell, a microcell provides a small region of coverage with a strong signal strength for more devices to connect or where service is poor or non-existent. The range of a microcell is a few hundred meters, and it is controlled by the tower by changing the voltage value. High density areas are served by placing more cells in the region to optimize capacity.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…