Femtocell: more then a 3G network at home

So what is a femtocell? Typically it is a miniature base station that is used in a home or professional environment acting as a link to high speed internet, capable of managing numerous mobile phones (or music players or laptop computers) simultaneously.

It is currently presented as a box that is similar to those provided by Internet providers. The objective is to make its configuration and use as simple as possible, like plug and play. The future will soon tell us if this has been successful.

The principles of the Femtocell service (credit: Femto Forum)

The advantage is that it allows you to create 3G coverage in spaces that are not well covered by the carriers normal signal. This is generally inside homes, where the 2100 MHz frequency employed by 3G cant easily penetrate the buildings walls. The problem can in part be fixed by also using the 900 MHz frequency, now open to 3G (see our article), but you would also have to deploy the structures and have compatible handsets.

With femtocells, a small cell network is built for domestic use. While we generally look at 3G Feltocells, these can work with the 3G standards: UMTS/HSDPA, CDMA/CDMA2000 and TD-SCDMA in China, although nothing prevents imagining WiMAX or LTE femtocels in a while as manufacturers are already creating solutions.



A bridge between cellular and personal wired networks
Femtocells use a high speed internet connection (either personal or enterprise) to link to the operators macro-network. Doing this offers cost reductions while making it easier to extend access to their 3G network depending on the demand and not just to assure high coverage of the population with higher use on a few cells.

It should be noted that there is an inherent problem with this new concept: the lack of standards. There is a Femto Forum which works at promoting and discussing international uses, but the equipment makers develop their own systems in the hope that theirs will be made into the standard.

To work, the femtocells need a high speed internet connection, like ADSL or cable. The multi play operators who master the wired Internet services, will have a certain advantage in this market by offering ADSL and femtocell mobile telephony options, allowing them to complete the chain on all levels.

Finally, the operator has to put into place remote management infrastructure for the femtocells, which will require co-operation with the equipment makers as well as standardised options for the offered solutions.