Solutions for Indoor Cell Coverage Could Boost 3G Services

One of the biggest challenges facing wireless subscribers is a lack of indoor coverage, reports In-Stat. The timing of 3G service rollouts is making this problem more relevant, as carriers realize that 3G services will have limited success without addressing the indoor coverage issue, the high-tech market research firm says. The cost to address these shortcomings with traditional macro base station solutions is too high and not possible for most mobile operators.

"Microcells, picocells and femtocells address these challenges in a much more cost-effective manner," says Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst. "By providing smaller and less powerful base stations in smaller areas, like public spaces, offices and even homes, carriers can provide better coverage in more specific areas without a huge capital investment."

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Femtocells, picocells and microcells are expected to surpass 31 million units by 2012.
• Sprint is the first to market with a femtocell-based service, while mobile operators around the world are trialing the many femtocell products planned for commercial availability in 2008.
• An entirely new device segment is emerging, the Enterprise Picocell. These devices will configure themselves like home femtocells, but for the enterprise business customer.

Posted to the site on 6th May 2008