Qatar mobile network operator launches femtocell trial
11th March 2010 00:20:28
The benefits offered by femtocell devices are to be assessed in a new trial launched by a Qatar-based mobile network operator.
While the technology is being made available to a range of Qtel's individual handset users, femtocells will also be offered to organisations based in some of the country's office environments.
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The company has noted that devices such as iPhones will see better 3G coverage thanks to the femtocells it is testing.
Meanwhile, a news report on the company's website has also reported that people will additionally see "a better call experience" thanks to the devices, with "more than 60 per cent of mobile calls in Qatar made indoors" at present.
The forthcoming International CTIA Wireless 2010 event will provide mobile industry stakeholders with the chance to learn more about femtocell technology.
A Femto Super Session and Femto Zone will both be staged during the conference by the Femto Forum.
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Operators need to enhance in-building coverage
10th March 2010 06:55:15
With demand for wireless data on the rise, mobile network operators will need to look at how they can enhance their indoor network coverage, it has been emphasised.
Writing in an article for Analysys Mason, Matt Hatton and Terry Norman have discussed the "four pillars" that firms should focus on in the near future.
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Among these pillars, the pair believes that the issue of in-building coverage is something that needs to be addressed, with data offloading likely to prove useful in tackling large wireless traffic.
In their article, they commented: "As in-building traffic increases, so will the requirement to offload it from the macro network.
"The femtocell is the most obvious technology to use to offload this traffic."
Meanwhile, Mr Hatton and Mr Norman have also touched upon the subject of repeaters, noting the benefits they might offer to macro networks.
The Barclay analyst Jeff Kvall was recently reported by the EE Times as saying that mobile data use is very high among consumers in indoor environments.
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High volume of indoor mobile data use highlights need for femtocells
9th March 2010 10:12:07
The high volume of mobile data use which takes place in indoor environments means that network operators are right to look more closely at femtocell technology, an expert has highlighted.
EE Times has reported the Barclay analyst Jeff Kvall as saying that people using data services within buildings are responsible for around 95 per cent of overall mobile data use.
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"It's worth it for carriers to put in the effort to work through challenges with femtocells," Mr Kvaal told the news provider.
Commenting in the same EE Times piece, another analyst at Barclays, Andrew Gardiner, noted that many problems relating to network congestion are likely to require "time rather than money to solve them".
Earlier this month, figures from the European Interactive Advertising Association emphasised the large popularity of mobile internet services in Europe.
The organisation claimed that 71 million mobile users across the continent are making use of mobile internet on a weekly basis.
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Femtocell technology now being tested in 60 operator trials
9th March 2010 02:15:20
Femtocell technology is currently being tested in around 60 trials which have been launched by mobile network operators, a writer has highlighted.
Writing in an article for Telecom TV, Ian Scales has outlined the major femtocell deployments which have already been made in recent months by carriers such as Vodafone UK.
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"Femtos have really arrived - especially in the US and in Japan," Mr Scales commented.
However, the expert went on to note the work that still needs to be done to effectively market femtocell devices, with incentives required to attract mobile users to the technology.
In his Telecom TV piece, he stated: "It seems to me that the job of blending a femto plus various incentives into a compelling offer needs some work."
Femtocells are to be discussed in great detail during the forthcoming CTIA Wireless 2010 event, which is due to feature a large Femto Forum presence later in the month.
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Femtocell Information
Femtocell consumer value propositions
