Femtocells: Reinventing the wheel?
For mobile operator and consumer alike, the potential attractions of femtocells include improvements to both coverage and capacity, especially indoors. There may also be opportunities for new services and reduced cost. We've heard something like this before of course; the question remains, are femtocells a fixed mobile convergence dream come true or a recurring technology nightmare?
September 10, 2008
![Femtocells: Reinventing the wheel? Femtocells: Reinventing the wheel?](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt3d4d54955bda84c0/blt1e88d2a693836d6d/654d1ccb46fe8f040ad33e99/femtobox.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
By Sean Jackson
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Reinventing The Wheel
For mobile operator and consumer alike, the potential attractions of femtocells include improvements to both coverage and capacity, especially indoors. There may also be opportunities for new services and reduced cost. We’ve heard something like this before of course; the question remains, are femtocells a fixed mobile convergence dream come true or a recurring technology nightmare?
In August, US CDMA carrier Sprint became the first carrier in the world to roll out a nationwide femtocell offering. Under the banner Airave, Sprint subscribers can get hold of their very own home access 1XRTT base station for an initial investment of $99.99 plus $4.99 per month for device rental. For an additional $10 or $20 per month (depending on the number of lines required) subscribers can get unlimited calling plans.
As world firsts go it is somewhat uninspiring. To recap, Sprint customers are being given the opportunity to pay, in addition to their existing plan, just shy of $160 in the first year for improved voice only coverage, while at home. You could argue, fairly reasonably, that Sprint should already be providing decent coverage for its customers.
You’d be well placed to call into question the wisdom of Sprint customers that sign up for this service rather than opting to churn to a supplier with better coverage. You might like to ponder over why, exactly, our loyal yet inadequately served, theoretical Sprint customer will be persuaded that the femtocell on offer is anything more than a repeater in disguise. If you know femtocells, you’ll know the technologies are far removed, but consumers have never heard of femtocells. They’re familiar with repeaters though, and they’re not well liked.