Combining two emerging technologies – active antennas and SON (self-organizing networks) – could significantly improve network capacity and performance by reducing unnecessary handovers between antennas. This is the conclusion of the EU-backed Semafour, which has delivered an algorithm that can cut those handovers by 20%, while automating and optimizing the selection of WiFi or cellular connections to deliver the best data rates and quality of service. The Semafour project, which includes Belgian specialist iMinds plus Nokia and Ericsson, has focused on combining the vertical sectorization (VS) features of active antenna systems (AAS), with SON. Both these technologies have been heralded for years as solutions to boosting 4G (and future 5G) capacity, performance and efficiency, but are still in the early…