Can passive repeater concept work for GSM mobile phones?

[darryl at radio-active.net.au]

The timing issue I believe is 35KM. Beyond that the protocol timing breaks.

However there is the ability for the telco's to have a 2nd cell site in
the same location, which is set up for a 35-70KM range. The capacity on
this 2nd 'site' will not operate outside that range, so the first site
MUST be used for shorter distances. It is unlikely that passive repeaters
will work for over 35km thanks to path loss.

Darryl Smith, VK2TDS
Auckland Airport in transit to LAX