Femtocell Networks

Abstract

     This paper will be an overview of and brief introduction to femtocell networks.  The objective is to become familiar with the femtocell technology and discover its benefits and current level of usage.  To achieve this goal I reviewed several industry related journals.  After performing this research I’ve come to realize, the many valuable usages of the femtocell and now believe femtocells will come into wide usage in the near future.

 

Introduction

 

    For this assignment we had to review two articles.  One entitled Femtocell Networks:  A Survey, and the other entitled,  Femtocell network architecture and signaling protocol.  Let’s start with the basics first.  Exactly what is a femtocell?  Prior to this assignment I had never even heard the term before. The website FemtoForum.Org defines a Femtocell as follows, “Femtocells are low-power wireless access points that operate in licensed spectrum to connect standard mobile devices to a mobile operator’s network using residential DSL or cable broadband connections.”[3]  It femtocell allows us to increase the capacity and the effectiveness of our home network by providing us with a more powerful wireless signal.

  “The demand for higher data rates in wireless networks is unrelenting, and has triggered the design and development of new data-minded cellular standards such as WiMAX, the Third Generation Partnership Project’s (3GPP’s) High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and LTE standards, and 3GPP’s EVDO and UMB standards.” [1]

     Nowadays it seems engineers are under more and more pressure to make everything smaller, faster and wireless with a seamless ease of use.  I think the femtocell is a great idea and I believe its use will dramatically increase in the near future.  Making things wireless reduces clutter and the amount of wires in the area.  Not to mention the fact that wireless devices are more convenient and give the user greater freedom of movement.  Today everyone has to be able to multitask and having a femto providing a nice strong signal will make that a lot easier to do.  In todays fast pace market everyone has to stay on top of their data, and no one can afford to miss a call.  Missing that call may cost you your job.

     “The surest way to increase the system capacity of a wireless link is by getting the transmitter and receiver closer to each other, which creates the dual benefits of higher-quality links and more spatial reuse.  In a network with nomadic users, this inevitably involves deploying more infrastructure, typically in the form of microcells, hot spots, distributed antennas, or relays.  A less expensive alternative is the recent concept of femtocells – also called home base stations – which are data access points installed by home users to get better indoor, voice and data coverage.” [1]  Below in figure 1 you will see a typical femtocell network.

[2]

Conclusion

     The articles I reviewed were both insightful and informative.  I now believe I have a basic understanding of what a femtocell network is and I will more likely than not experiment with setting one up in my own home.  Just like anything else, the femtocell has its good points and bad points.  For instance, the technology may seem a little complicated to some of the less tech. savvy members of the public.  Also the physical placement of the cell is critical.  You have to determine the correct place to get the most bang for your buck.  Once again, this may turn out to be a complicated task to perform for some people.  However, I believe the benefits that can be received from using a femtocell are more than worth the trouble and expense of setting up a femtocell network.

References

 [1] Vikram Chandrasekhar and Jeffrey G. Andrews, Alan Gatherer, Initials. (2008, October 9). Femtocell networks: a survey. IEEE Communications Magazine, 59-67.

[2] Srinivasa Rao,Ravi Raj Bhat , Initials. (2008). Femtocell network architecture and signaling protocol. Continuous Computing, Retrieved from http://www.ccpu.com/papers/femtocells/

 [3]  What is a femtocell?. (2009, November). Retrieved from http://www.femtoforum.org/femto/index.php?id=46

Appendix

Fig. 1:  High-level Femtocell Network Architecture