Femtocells in the UK, coming sometime maybe
11 February 2008
Femtocells in the UK, coming sometime maybe
UK carrier O2 is trialling Japanese kit vendor NEC's femtocell technology. The operator said it expects to launch a consumer offering sometime in 2009.
Speaking to telecoms.com at Mobile World Congress in Barcelan today, Anil Kohli, director of the global femtocell program network solutions division, NEC, said his firm is carrying out lab-based trials with two other carriers.
He said network operators can expect significant capex and opex savings.
However, he could shed no light on the likely business model. He said it is unclear at this stage whether or not consumers are expected to subsidise the roll out of the technology.
"We offer the access point, the femtocell gateway and we are integrating it with O2's Ericsson network. The whole idea is the network operator does not need to change its network," he said.
According to ABI Research, the European femtocell market will represent the largest global market with 16.6 million units per annum in 2012 out of total shipment volume of 36 million units. The market is expected to be worth $4.2bn.
Richard Hanscott, VP of the Network Solutions Division at NEC Europe, commented: "O2 is taking the leading approach to trial this solution which will help meet subscriber demands."
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