AT&T (News - Alert) is looking at a new tactic to improve outdoor wireless reception: small cells.

For a long time, Wi-Fi used to – for the most part – be the only reliable way for carriers to resolve the problem of gaps in their network coverage. AT&T was no stranger to this strategy, either, as the company reportedly used this to help ease reception issues in many metropolitan areas where it offered wireless service.

Apparently, what drove the company to turn to small cells was its acquiring of more spectrum, which one report explains as “a costly and time-consuming process littered with legal roadblocks.” Even more, small cell testing has apparently been underway for a few months (since late 2012), and a trial case study based in Montana was conducted that “proved outdoor reception could improve by almost 100-percent,” according to digital news outlet Engadget.

 That test site is apparently only the beginning of AT&T’s small cell venture, as the company is reportedly looking to engage in a bigger rollout that could place over 40,000 of these units through its nationwide footprint by 2015, Engadget continues.

This isn’t the only exciting small cells news from this week. Also this week, Cisco (News - Alert) revealed its huge plans to acquire Ubiquisys, a privately held small cells firm headquartered in the U.K., which will help to strengthen Cisco’s commitment to its service provider customers by developing its mobility expertise with more robust and intelligent Internet networks, TMCnet reported.

 "Cisco is 'doubling down' on its small cell business to accelerate strong momentum and growth in the mobility market," explained Kelly Ahuja, senior vice president and general manager of the Cisco Mobility Business Group, in a statement.

Ahuja continued that "by acquiring Ubiquisys (News - Alert), we are expanding on our current mobility leadership and our end-to-end product portfolio, which includes integrated, licensed and unlicensed small cell solutions that are tightly coupled with SON, backhaul, and the mobile packet core. For service providers, Ubiquisys supports cost effective coverage and capacity that delivers a differentiated customer experience."