Vodafone Albania becomes the first operator to use space technology for an even stronger signal

Vodafone is turning to space technology to solve a terrestrial challenge – how to ensure that 4G and 5G antennas placed on the ground are always positioned accurately, to guarantee the best signal for users.

Vodafone's solution to this challenge will be implemented initially in Albania, starting in September, before being extended to other countries. It consists of installing satellite-guided sensors inside new antennas placed on top of mobile phone masts. With this innovation, Vodafone becomes the first operator to use such technology in a commercial network, ensuring that the antennas are oriented correctly from the start and remain so afterwards.

If mobile antennas are not perfectly oriented, for example, if they have shifted over time due to adverse weather conditions or seismic activity, the connection quality can deteriorate significantly.

Satellite-guided sensors

Currently, antenna installation is done manually, and while engineers have the ability to position them optimally, it is not a simple process. At heights of up to 50 meters, they must consider azimuth (the angle of orientation to true north), slope to determine the distance and area covered by the signal, and height above sea level to avoid obstacles that could affect the antenna's performance. The challenges are further increased when antennas from different operators are placed on the same mast.

To address these challenges, Vodafone is integrating special sensors within the antennas themselves. These sensors will collect GPS-based information from modules placed at various points on the antenna, along with other performance data. The data is then instantly transmitted to one of Vodafone’s network operations centers, enabling engineers to reposition the antenna automatically or send an expert to the field for more complex installations.

Accuracy on the network is essential

Alberto Ripepi, Network Director at Vodafone, said: “As smartphones become increasingly functional, network accuracy also becomes vital. The correct orientation of antennas is now one of the most critical elements in the installation and maintenance of high-performance mobile networks. By integrating sensors into the new antennas, we can more easily calibrate them to deliver the best signal quality to our customers.”

During installation, each antenna must be oriented to cover the specific target area, while minimizing interference with neighboring cells. Accurate positioning of the antennas helps eliminate dead zones, increases data speeds, improves connection responsiveness, and reduces the number of dropped calls. This innovative approach will reduce the need for multiple field interventions for adjustments, significantly reducing maintenance costs over time.

Vodafone is working closely with its network suppliers to ensure that the information collected by the sensors is easy to process and consistent across the entire pan-European network, through a standardised industry protocol. In the future, Vodafone's aim is to dynamically control the position of the antennas in line with real-time demands – whether to serve commuters in their daily lives, fans in stadiums or attendees at music festivals.

Network as a sensor

This latest technological innovation is part of a broader program called “Network as Sensor”, which leverages Vodafone’s extensive geographical reach of around 160,000 masts across Europe and Africa. In this context, Vodafone is using sensors placed on its masts to predict rainfall and other atmospheric conditions at the micro-climate level, enabling timely notification of citizens and emergency teams to floods or other natural and man-made hazards.