Systems and methods for improving wireless network coverage

A communication system comprising:

• one or more client terminals;
• and
• a small cell having a coverage area that is communicatively coupled to the one or more client terminals, the small cell comprising:
• a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC);
• a switch configured to separate uplink signals and downlink signals;
• an antenna configured to send uplink signals to the switch and receive downlink signals from the switch;
• a power amplifier configured to receive a downlink signal from the RFIC and send the downlink signal to the switch;
• and
• a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured to receive an uplink signal from the switch and send the uplink signal to the RFIC;
• wherein a receiver RF chain of the small cell is defined by an interconnection between the antenna, the switch, the LNA, and the RFIC;
• wherein a transmitter RF chain of the small cell is defined by an interconnection between the RFIC, the power amplifier, the switch, and the antenna;
• and
• wherein the LNA has at least one parameter that is defined based on a determined uplink link-budget deficiency associated with a given client terminal having a given power class and located at a given location of the coverage area.

A method for defining parameters for a small cell that comprises (i) a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), (ii) a switch configured to separate uplink signals and downlink signals, (iii) an antenna configured to send uplink signals to the switch and receive downlink signals from the switch, (iv) a power amplifier configured to receive a downlink signal from the RFIC and send the downlink signal to the switch, and (v) a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured to receive an uplink signal from the switch and send the uplink signal to the RFIC, the method comprising:

• defining a power class for the small cell;
• based at least on the defined power class for the small cell, defining an antenna gain for the antenna of the small cell;
• determining an uplink link-budget deficiency associated with a client terminal having a given power class and located at a given location of a coverage area of the small cell;
• and
• based on the determined uplink link-budget deficiency, defining one or more parameters of the LNA of the small cell.