A microcell is a cell in a mobile phone network served by a low power cellular base station (tower), covering a limited area such as a mall, a hotel, or a transportation hub.
Microcells are often deployed temporarily during sporting events and other occasions in which extra capacity is known to be needed at a specific location in advance.
Power controls implemented on digital networks make it easier to prevent interference from nearby cells using the same frequencies.
By comparison, older analog systems have fixed limits, beyond which attempts to subdivide cells simply would result in an unacceptable level of interference.
DECT is used by many businesses to deploy private license-free microcellular networks within large campuses where wireline phone service is less useful.