Are Femtocells more than just Wi-Fi Access Points?
This is the first of a two part discussion femtocell technology. The term is used to define a ‘mini base station’ including a radio unit like that in a cell tower for a mobile Operator’s network. The femtocell is designed to provide short-range coverage, ideally extending through a house or apartment but not radiating much outside that area. It is small, about the size and shape of a Wi-Fi access point, and is designed for self-installation. With a home Internet connection, the femtocell uses DSL or cable modem to backhaul voice and data calls to the cellular Operator’s core network. A femtocell may be seen as a means of using the Internet to extend a mobile Operator’s network into the home. The most credible reason to deploy a femtocell is to compensate for poor coverage. Mobile Operators themselves estimate that perhaps 10% of subscribers don’t get good cellular coverage at home, and since over 70% of U.S. households now have a broadband connection, a femtocell can fill that gap. The
