KPN's German wireless unit E-Plus has developed, and applied for a patent for, a new 3G basestation site technology concept it dubs 'Ultra High Sites (UHS)'. The solution uses structures taller than 100 metres - such as transmitter masts and industrial chimneys - to reduce the number of basestation sites required to provide a given area of coverage. The company says that one 'UHS' typically replaces eight conventional 3G sites. This year, E-Plus is planning to build approximately 200 'UHS's in Germany instead of around 1,500 conventional UMTS basestations. The company reckons the new concept will save it approximately €60mn in CAPEX between now and year-end 2005.

'UHS' has a range of between 2 and 4km in built-up areas, and 4 and 6km in outlying areas. E-Plus calculates that for a city the size of Erlanger, a single 'UHS' will replace 14 conventional UMTS sites, and provide city-wide coverage. In Dusseldorf four 'UHS's could do the work of 40 conventional sites.

Does E-Plus/KPN intend to licence the 'UHS' concept to other 3G operators? E-mail and phone calls to the company produced no definite response, although a spokesman thought that this was very unlikely in the German market.

E-Plus is one of four remaining German 3G players out of the six that originally won licences. Vodafone and T-Mobile launched 3G services in Germany in May 2004, followed by O2 Germany in July. Last out of the box, E-Plus launched 3G in mid-August.
John Williamson