Femtocells [Industry Perspectives]

Abstract

Femtocells, also known as home NodeBs (HNBs) or femto access points (FAPs), are low-transmit-power (100 mW or less) small-form-factor cellular base stations typically deployed indoors in residential, enterprise, and hotspot settings. Femtocells operate on licensed spectrum and provide voice/data service to mobile phone users by connecting them to the Internet and an operator's core network using a broadband Internet connection (e.g. ADSL, cable) as a backhaul. Femtocell users experience excellent voice call quality and near peak data rates due to improved radio frequency (RF) coverage.