A base station (BS) capable of communication with a number of transmission points includes a processor configured to control a beamforming transmission or reception and an integrated antenna array system. The integrated antenna array system includes a baseband signal processing unit configured to perform baseband functions and disposed between the two sections. The integrated antenna array system also includes a plurality of physical antenna elements disposed in groups. Each of the groups includes an equal number of the plurality of physical antenna elements. The plurality of physical antenna elements are disposed symmetrically around the baseband signal processing unit.