Unobtrusive base station and antenna arrangements

A cellular telephone base station and antenna arrangement has at least part of the said arrangement supported or formed by a common street structure. In one arrangement the structure is an informational street sign 42. The sign 42 may have an enclosure formed, therein or a separate structure 44 located nearby, for base station circuitry which is connected to an antenna 46 which is at least partly supported or formed by the said sign 42. In an alternative arrangement an item of street furniture (e.g. a conventional lamp-post, traffic light, road sign, litter bin or a close circuit television (CCTV) camera arrangement) includes an enclosure for circuitry for a base station as well as that of the said item of street furniture. Some of the circuitry may be common to both the base station and the item of street furniture. The above enclosures may include ventilation and cooling means. In a further arrangement an antenna for a base station is incorporated in a real or simulated drain pipe for mounting to the outside of a building. The above arrangements allow the said arrangements to be introduced to an urban environment with a minimal physical and visual impact.