Safaricom has began trial of TubeStar Base Station, an innovative network coverage technology aimed at enhancing coverage in urban areas.
The solution replaces the standard tower base station with a tubular structure that occupies up to 75 per cent less the land typically required.
It also eliminates the need for a compound and perimeter wall around the base station by incorporating all equipment within the tower structure.
“Over the last 18 years, Safaricom has established itself as a global innovation leader through constant and deliberate investment in innovative and ground-breaking technologies. Ultimately, our goal has been to provide our customers with world-class connectivity and networks. The TubeStar base station is the latest such innovation and will enable us meet the emerging demands of Kenya’s fast-paced urban environments,” said Thibaud Rerolle, Chief Technology Officer, Safaricom.
A few words about the Tube Star mast and how it will enhance our experience from our Chief Technology Officer @thibaudrerolle
#NaweKilaWakati pic.twitter.com/8IKVx9d2ts— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) December 5, 2018
The TubeStar is targeted at urban areas which present a space constraint when putting up network towers.
The technology also eliminates the need for diesel generators by replacing these with high-performance lithium batteries, cutting down on pollution and emissions from network sites.
The first TubeStar has been deployed at Clay Works along the Nairobi – Thika Highway and will offer coverage along the Roysambu drift which has long been plagued by call drops.
The location exemplifies challenges of providing coverage in urban areas as it is a depression where signals from surrounding base stations converge, resulting in interference and poor connectivity.
The new base station will exclusively provide coverage in the affected locality eliminating reliance on the other cells.
In the last three years to March 2018, Safaricom has invested more than KSh100 billion in upgrading and maintaining its network and plans to spend up to Sh38 billion in the current year to March 2019.
Among enhancements it has rolled out in the previous year were East Africa’s first 4G+ network, 4G coverage to all 47 counties, and M-PESA upgrades to a new platform.
The company also launched a KSh200 million Research and Development lab and carried out trials on the use of Internet-of-Things technology to help athletes in training.
