The growth of the mobile Internet has been more dramatic than any pundit could have imagined. Fueled by the iPhone and other smartphones, enthusiastic mobile Internet users have turned to email, video, Internet surfing and mobile apps in such overwhelming numbers that several significant network crashes have occurred. This has spurred carriers to quickly update their networks on two fronts: first, by moving to 4G high-speed wireless technology, which is specifically designed to support mobile Internet use; and second, by augmenting existing macrocells with small cells to bring coverage to wherever users are.

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3. The growth of the mobile Internet has been more dramatic than any pundit could have
imagined. Fueled by the iPhone and other smartphones, enthusiastic mobile Internet
users have turned to email, video, Internet surfing and mobile apps in such
overwhelming numbers that several significant network crashes have occurred. This
has spurred carriers to quickly update their networks on two fronts: first, by moving to 4G
high-speed wireless technology, which is specifically designed to support mobile Internet
use; and second, by augmenting existing macrocells with small cells to bring coverage to
wherever users are.
Even before complete rollout, it has become clear that 4G network deployments will not
keep pace with future mobile broadband demand. Additionally, the high bandwidth of this
technology means a shorter signal range due to attenuation, which leaves gaps or poor
coverage in areas that had strong coverage in previous generations. One of the major
emerging strategies to address these network issues is a heterogeneous topology that
augments base station macrocells with smaller base stations known as picocells.
Picocells can be placed indoors where signals are weak, or outdoors in areas of poor
reception or high usage. In-Stat predicts that small cell shipments will surpass 15 million
units by 2013. Already, femtocells (small base stations meant for home or small
business use) are increasingly utilized as a way to extend coverage in residences, and
picocells (base stations that are meant to cover commercial areas) have the same
potential for larger indoor buildings and outdoor locations.
Small cells mounted on outdoor poles, the sides of buildings, or deployed inside malls,
offices, sporting arenas or other buildings must provide a compact, inconspicuous, and
environmentally responsible solution. The power system for these small cells must
complement these considerations, particularly because they must often fit into very small
cabinets. This makes power density and modularity vitally important criteria.
Additionally, the cramped quarters and proximity to residences and businesses often

4. means only fans can be used for cooling rather than air conditioning systems; thus, the
power supply must be highly efficient so as to produce minimal heat during operation.
Remote control of the DC power system is also a critical requirement because of the
large number of small cells that are needed in the network. Service technicians must
have Internet access to rectifier control systems to check system health and to
determine if a failure has occurred. These conditions and requirements outline a specific
design for powering small cell network deployments—a power puzzle solved by Eltek
Valere.
As an all-in-one solution, the small cell cabinet includes not just communications
equipment but also the power supply and up to two hours of battery backup—all packed
in a single, compact, lightweight, pole-mounted
enclosure (Figure 1). The Eltek Valere Micropack Power
System (Figure 2), which has already proven its
efficiency and reliability in other telecommunication
power applications, lends itself perfectly to the unique
power requirements of small cells. Because the
Micropack scales from 250W up to 1000W, it is an
excellent solution for broadband extension and other
high-speed data and telecom applications associated
with 4G. Designed for smaller loads, yet equipped with
broad functionality, the complete system measures only
3.5”H (2U) x max. 5.9”D (incl. DIN rail), enabling it to fit
well in the tight, confined spaces of 3G and 4G small cell
Figure 1 – Pole-mounted enclosure
cabinets.
The Micropack power system includes the Micropack 250W rectifier, the Compack
controller and distribution options. The rectifier is the “heart” of a DC power system, and
Eltek Valere devotes much of its R&D efforts to the development of new state-of-the-art

5. designs, which have the quality and functionality expected in modern telecommunication
networks. Designed for onsite configuration and assembly, the Micropack rectifier allows
fast and efficient logistics and flexibility. The Compack controller is a plug-in unit that
provides compact, comprehensive functionality and is well suited for small range power
systems. It automatically monitors key battery conditions--like temperature--and modifies
its charging parameters to optimize battery performance; it can be monitored either
locally or via the web. These components work together to minimize operational costs
for carriers.
Temperature considerations are important for small cell power supplies, and Micropack
features a convection cooling method that is built for reliability, especially in harsh
environments.
The battery distribution is configurable with plug-in style breakers, battery connection
terminals and low voltage battery disconnect (LVBD) for optimal battery backup.
Figure 2 – Micropack Power System
A top tier U.S. carrier recently deployed more than 750 picocells to fill out its network in
New York City, Los Angeles and several other cities with dense demand for mobile
connectivity. Because of the picocell’s compact equipment size, it was much easier to
obtain permits and install the small cells. However, the requirement for two hours of
battery backup in each cell meant the power system had to be compact enough to fit
with batteries in the already crowded cabinet. Eltek Valere was able to answer this
challenge with the Micropack System.

6. Eltek Valere has complete solutions for a broad spectrum of wireless network
applications, including the mobile telephone switching (MTS) center and the macrocell
base station. The company is a pioneer and committed market leader for high-efficiency
DC power systems, offering an industry-leading 96% efficiency with many of its rectifiers.
This added efficiency has had a significant environmental impact. In February 2011, the
company reported a milestone of 200,000 HE rectifiers installed worldwide and
estimated that these systems have saved more than US $22 million in electricity costs
and prevented more than 140,000 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
In addition to the Micropack Power System, Eltek Valere utilizes other power solutions
ideal for small and medium-scale wireless applications, including:
The Eltek Valere Compact DC Power System is an industry-leading DC power system
optimized for the demanding power needs of wireless communications and broadband
access equipment. Compact, modular and flexible, the system is designed for a widerange of high-current, remote terminal applications. It offers up to 300 amps of power in
a 3.5” inch high (2U) package; supports 12V, 24V and 48V rectifiers and flexible
embedded bulk distribution, circuit breakers or fuses. In lower capacity base station
sites, the small size of the Compact DC Power System can save up to 3 rack units of
space compared to regular size power systems, which can be used to install other
equipment (for instance, a local management unit to support E911 service). More
information is available on the Eltek Valere website.
The Flatpack2 is Eltek Valere’s flagship DC power system and is the first system to offer
high efficiency (HE) modules. The Flatpack2 HE’s power density and cost efficiency
make it ideal for loads from 1 kilowatt to tens of kilowatts. With horizontal airflow many
shelves of rectifiers can be stacked on top of each other, and other equipment can be
mounted directly on top. Flatpack2 HE systems are available for 48V and 24V wireless
needs and come with either the Smartpack or Smartpack2 controller. The Flatpack2

7. Trilogy Solar system can also be used to integrate solar power into a telecom
application. More information is available on the Eltek Valere website.
The rapid growth in demand for mobile Internet services has created an urgency around
improving network bandwidth and throughput, which has spawned the development of
heterogeneous small cell networks. While these networks have the potential to help
carriers fill in gaps in the network, to be truly effective they will need the level of power
reliability that brings them up to par with macrocell base stations. With its Micropack DC
Power System products, Eltek Valere can help carriers to provide highly reliable power
to these systems in a form factor that is optimized for the application. While small cells
are a key network design innovation, the existing macrocell network will also continue to
grow. Eltek Valere’s Micropack System, Compact DC Power System and Flatpack2
Power System give carriers a complete solution set for every wireless network
requirement.