Femtocells

Transforming Mobile Broadband Communications

Femtocells provide in-building wireless coverage and connect to the operator network via a cable or DSL broadband internet connection. For end users, Airvana’s HubBub femtocells provide exceptional indoor coverage and high-performance data and multimedia, using the latest HSPA and EV-DO technologies. For mobile operators, femtocells fundamentally change the economics of delivering coverage and network capacity.

Femtocells reduce capital costs associated with macro cell equipment and real estate, and reduce operating costs associated with spectrum use and backhaul. Femtocells effectively provide “intelligent coverage” by concentrating capacity precisely where the subscriber will use it.

HubBub CDMA icon

Airvana's HubBub CDMA provides simultaneous support for EV-DO Rev. A mobile broadband data and 1xRTT voice, for up to six simultaneous users or sessions.  Learn More

HubBub UMTS icon

Airvana's HubBub UMTS supports voice and data over UMTS, including 7.2 Mbps HSDPA and 1.4 Mbps HSUPA mobile broadband data.  Learn More
Femtocell Benefits

Overall, femtocells have the potential to transform mobile communications by offering new economic and deployment models for operators and new levels of service to consumers.

Operator Benefits Consumer Benefits
For mobile operators, femtocells will deliver: For mobile consumers, femtocells will deliver:
Increased network capacity – As each new femtocell is added to the network and customers shift from macro cells to femtocells, operators will increase the overall network capacity, while they offload their macro cell network. Increased indoor coverage– In most cases, femtocells will provide “five bars” of coverage throughout the household.
Reduced capital costs– Even as the number of subscribers increases, femtocells will mitigate the need for new macro cell equipment and spectrum acquisition. Improved broadband experience– Instead of macro cells supporting hundreds of users, femtocells will serve just a few simultaneous users. Femtocells will deliver higher data rates per user and a better overall broadband experience.
Reduced backhaul costs – The on-going operating cost of backhauling traffic to operator core networks will be handled by the user’s DSL, cable, or fiber access connection. Better quality voice– With fewer users per access point, femtocells will support a new generation of wide-band voice encoders for better sound quality.
Increased customer retention and conversion – With excellent in-home coverage, better broadband performance, and attractive home zone calling plans, operators will find customers staying and converting on a family-basis versus an individual-basis. Work with existing handsets– Femtocells will allow use of the existing handsets to offer new services at home, improving the ability of users to use the cell phone as the primary communication device, both inside the home and out.
Expanded revenue opportunities with “femto zone” services– through a combination of auto-sensing subscriber location, and interaction with home networks, femtocells will enable a new generation of value-added services.  Femtocells might automatically transfer music from a home PC to the mobile phone, making the phone the subscriber’s default personal music player.  Femtocells might notify a parent when their child arrives home from school. Exciting new converged services– Femtocells will allow mobile phones to interact with home networks in new and exciting ways.  For example, users will make it easier for users to download music and videos, or even control home appliances remotely from the phone.


In a 2009 Femto Forum study conducted by Signals Research Group, femtocells were shown to have an operator ROI potential up to 500% while also providing tangible benefits for the end user.