Femtocell is Coming
It’s been on and off, but it seems that Femtocells – miniature cellular base station that sit inside our homes and offices and amplify cellular signals – are making it to the market.
For people who are having difficulty receiving cell signal in their home. Femtocell, miniature cellular base station that can piggy back on the home broadband network to extend the cell signal in the home. Recently, an increasing number of companies have started to announce availability of femtocell devices.
Last April 
we reported Samsung announced the “UbiCell” – a femtocell product – in both CDMA and WCDMA versions. Femtocells are cellular base stations the size of a wi-fi access point that provide cellular coverage in the home. Sprint plans to launch it in late summer 2007. The UbiCell connects to the carrier’s network via a home broadband connection (DSL or cable.) Phones must be authorized to use the femtocell – meaning the signal is not available to guests or neighbors – although up to four authorized users can use it simultaneously. The CDMA version supports both 850 and 1900 bands, plus EVDO and seamless handoffs to towers on the main network. Users can travel with the UbiCell and use it wherever there is power, broadband, and their carrier has licensed spectrum. A GPS system ensures it does not operate in areas the carrier is not licensed.
GigaOm reports today 2Wire, which makes DSL residential gateways, and is part owned by AT&T, recently announced that it will include femtocell functionality in its devices. The voice calls can be carried over the DSL connections, without needing a WiFi connection.
Furthermore, Netgear, recently teamed up with Ubiquisys and will develop a new residential gateway that will have integrated DSL modem, Wi-Fi, VoIP and 3G femtocell technology, and will be available in 2008.
Mobile carriers are obviously worried by the impact of WiFi and VoWiFi on their voice revenues. Vodafone, world’s cellular operator has issued an RFP for femtocells, much like France Telecom, the parent company of Orange.
I am wondering revolutionary solution like this one, which will help consumer to save money (personally, I can certainly get rid of my landline phones currently subscribed from my broadband Cable modem provider). But how Cable modem provider will react to the fact that carriers cutting to their revenue stream while taking advantage of their broadband bandwidth. This will be an interesting thing to watch. Don’t forget that Broadband provider can easily block certain traffic such VoIP or other special traffic from this Femtocell.
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