A radio communication system including multiple antenna elements divided into subgroups of at least two antenna elements, and multiple line cards operable to employ spatial processing techniques. Each line card is coupled to a subgroup such that the line card may transmit and receive signals using the subgroup. A base station for use in a radio communication system includes one or more line cards. Each line card includes an antenna interface used to couple the line card to a subgroup of multiple antenna elements, a radio frequency component coupled to the antenna interface, and a signal processing component coupled to the radio frequency component such that the line card is operable to transmit and receive radio frequency communications. A method for providing increased capacity in a radio communication system includes dividing an antenna array, creating N subgroups of antenna elements, and for each of the N subgroups of antenna elements, coupling a line card to the subgroup of antenna elements. Each line card is operable to communicate using its coupled subgroup of antenna elements.