Abstract: The invention relates to a multibeam antenna for emitting/receiving a radiofrequency signal in a plurality of directions in at least one frequency band, the antenna including: a floorplan (P); a dielectric substrate (11) having a permittivity (?1), the substrate (11) being arranged on the floorplan (P); and a plurality of assemblies (Ei) of antenna elements arranged on the substrate (11), each assembly (Ei) corresponding to a direction of the antenna. The antenna according to the invention is characterized in that said antenna also includes a dielectric superstate (12), having a higher permittivity (?2) than the permittivity (?1) of the substrate (11), arranged on the assemblies (Ei) of antenna elements, and in that the assemblies (Ei) are interleaved one under the other so as to form a column, the assemblies (Ei) corresponding to a single antenna direction being separated by a number of assemblies equal to the number of antenna directions.

Abstract: Various antenna arrangements are provided with active transmit and receive antenna elements for transmitting and receiving signals within a cellular communication system. Also, presented are specific base station antenna systems and methods, and portions thereof, which improve and control specific characteristics and features of antenna systems including antenna beam patterns. In addition, a method for the optimization of a cellular communications network is provided which exploits reverse-link, forward-link, and pilot signal information to optimize network operations.