Virtual concentric cells based on active antennas in a wireless communication system

A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, comprising:

• a first base station having a first antenna array defining a plurality of first sectors having respective widths defined in azimuth, each of the first sectors including a first sector floor and a first sector ceiling at respective elevation angles such that combining first sector floors and first sector ceilings creates at least a portion of a respective first base station conical cell centered at the first base station, the first base station being configured to define additional first base station conical cells at respective elevation angles between the first sector floor and the first sector ceiling;
• and
• a second base station having a second antenna array defining a plurality of second sectors having respective widths defined in azimuth, each of the second sectors including a second sector floor and a second sector ceiling at respective elevation angles such that combining second sector floors and second sector ceilings creates at least a portion of a respective second base station conical cell centered at the second base station, the second base station being configured to define additional second base station conical cells at respective elevation angles between the second sector floor and the second sector ceiling,
• wherein the first base station and the second base station are disposed offset from each other along a first direction, and
• wherein a steerable beam is formable within each of the first sectors and second sectors, the steerable beam being steerable both in azimuth and elevation angle based on beamsteering performed at respective ones of a first remote radio head and a second remote radio head of the first base station and the second base station.