Femtocell deployments more than double in 12 months
Recent research reports have unearthed that deployment of Femtocells by mobile networks have more than doubled in the past 12 months. The report has found that although residential services represent the overwhelming majority of Femtocell deployments, the market has also started to see particularly strong growth in the enterprise sector.
Almost a third of Femtocell deployments now include enterprise offerings, contrasting strongly with the situation 12 months ago when there were no non-residential deployments. There are 19 Femtocell deployments in total globally compared with nine last year.
These include six enterprise offerings, two urban deployments from Vodafone Qatar and Telefonica Spain as well as an outdoor rural service from SoftBank in Japan. These demonstrate that operator interest is not limited to residential services alone. Non-residential Femtocell services focus on the high-value enterprise market, public places such as metropolitan environments where they provide a capacity boost, and rural areas where network coverage has traditionally been uneconomical.
Furthermore, the past quarter has also seen important progress in Femtocell technology. In addition to more powerful models that cover larger areas, new low power USB-connected Femtocell designs promise to open up new service opportunities for operators. The second Femtocell plug fest also took place, indicating that the industry is close to seeing widespread standardized Femtocell deployments.
The researchers believe that while residential Femtocell deployments continue to grow, they are seeing changes in the market as a whole with operators realizing the technology can extend to the enterprise, rural and urban markets. Enterprise offerings are rapidly becoming a standard component of all Femtocell deployments. Beyond this, operators have already started to embrace urban Femtocells to overcome the coverage challenge, and outdoor designs for rural markets which could also revolutionize developing markets too.
Researchers expect that the Femtocell market will experience significant growth over the next few years, reaching just less than 49 million Femtocell access points (FAP) in the market by 2014 with 114 million mobile users accessing mobile networks through Femtocells during that year. Healthy growth is anticipated throughout the forecast period with Femtocell unit sales reaching 25 million in 2014 alone.
The expansion of the Femtocell industry is also reflected in the growing membership of the Femto Forum, the Femtocell industry association, which now includes 74 vendors and 61 mobile operators representing over 1.71 billion mobile subscribers worldwide, across multiple wireless technologies (WiMAX, UMTS and CDMA) and accounts for 33% of total mobile subscribers worldwide.
Telefonica raises bid for Portugal Telecom stake in Vivo
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bid has been increased by Telefonica Spain for Portugal Telecom’s indirect stake in their 50:50 Brazilian mobile joint venture Vivo Participacoes to EUR6.5 billion, while earlier the telco has offered EUR5.7 billion (USD8.1 billion) to Portugal Telecom.
The offer of improved bid has also been confirmed by PT. According to Portugal telecom, Telefonica’s revised offer comes in the shape of two alternative plans: the first would see the immediate sale of PT’s entire 50% holding, while the second option would see the sale triggered at PT’s discretion at some point during an agreed three-year period
A meeting was conducted by the board of PT to discuss the improved offer and that while they consider it does not reflect the strategic value of the Brazilian asset, have decided to call a shareholders’ meeting to discuss the offer in full.
Telefonica Spain selects NSN for network up gradation
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Nokia Siemens Networks has been selected by Telefonica Spain for the up gradation of its 3G radio network to HSPA+. This aims towards the preparation for the next generation of mobile communications.
s a result of this three year project, data download speeds of Telefonica Spain will increase from 7.2 Mbps to 42 Mbps. Under the terms of the agreement, new functionalities will be deployed by Nokia Siemens in response to Telefonica customers’ demands for more speed, bandwidth and new services. Evolved HSPA+ will be prepared for Telefonica network boosting the bandwidth used for data connections.
Provision of 3G and GSM access simultaneously using the 900 MHz band of radio spectrum will also be supported by the modernized network, once the regulatory authorities allow it. Nokia Siemens’ LTE-ready Flexi Base Stations will be used for the project.
The consequence of the network modernization will be that energy consumption will decrease equaling 27.000 MWh. NetAct network management system to monitor will also be provided by Nokia Siemens besides managing and optimizing the Spanish operator’s network.
SEC to investigate Telecom Argentina sale
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked Telecom Italia (TI) to provide documents about the forced sale of its 50% stake in Sofora. Sofora is the holding company that controls TI’s Argentine unit, Telecom Argentina.
According to the chief executive of Telecom Italia (TI), Franco Bernabe, SEC asks for documents the moment it starts an investigation and he also believes that investigation will not delay the sale of Telecom Argentina.
Information of communication between TI and the government of Argentina has been asked by SEC. Besides, it has also requested information on potential buyers and sanctions that the government has applied to TI in Argentina.
Spain’s Telefonica has taken 24.7% stake in the Italian firm and already owns fixed line operator Telefonica de Argentina and because of this TI’s 50% stake in Sofora violates antitrust legislation.
Client division set up by Telefonica in Spain
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A client division, independent of the business units has been set up by Telefonica for its Spain operations. The unit will bring together the departments of commercial information, market research, and commercial research, as well as the areas of quality and processes.
Besides, the unit will also cover areas of strategy, innovation, branding and marketing services. Fernando Herrera, who previously served as head of Telefonica’s residential customer division, is leading the newly created department.
Similar divisions, with the same functions and responsibilities are already present in other Telefonica group units, particularly Telefonica Europe. By the launch of this unit, the company aims to apply the best customer service practices at its new client division at Telefonica Spain.
Telefonica to launch 10 Mbps ADSL, piloting 30 Mbps (Spain)
Spain’s dominant telephony operator Telefonica will shortly launch ADSL of up to 10 Mbps to residential customers, said the head of Telefonica Spain. Antonio Viana-Baptista said until now 10 Mbps ADSL has only been available to business customers. The offer, as part of double- or triple-play packages, will soon be available to residential customers. Viana-Baptista also said that in the first quarter of next year the operator would start “digital areas” which would be equipped with fibre-optic ADSL of speeds of more than 30 Mbps. Telefonica said it was carrying out pilots in 1,000 homes in Madrid and Barcelona. Viana-Baptista also announced the launch of an improved version of its digital TV Imagenio. The main addition is Past TV which allows viewers to view programmes screened up to seven days ago.
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