FCC’s net neutrality rules could help femtocells
On Thursday the FCC approved six rules for wired and wireless broadband Internet connections, but left the details of the rules open to public debate for the next 60 days. One of the rules states that “subject to reasonable network management, a provider of broadband Internet access service must treat lawful content, applications, and services in a non-discriminatory manner.”
As well as preventing a broadband provider from blocking Skype because it competes with its own VoIP service, this also means that Verizon and AT&T cannot block each other’s femtocell traffic on their fixed line networks. Neither can they block Sprint’s femto traffic.
In practice, femtocell traffic is not being blocked on US broadband networks today (and there would be very little justification for an ISP to shape or throttle femto traffic for network management purposes). However, some analysts continue to raise concerns that traffic blocking could potentially damage the femtocell market, and the new rules, when ratified, should finally put these concerns to bed – at least in the US.
One controversial aspect of the new net neutrality rules is that they extend to wireless networks as well as fixed. CTIA has hinted at legal action, saying the rules “degrade the value” of the public spectrum carriers have licensed. Further details of the impact of net neutrality for wireless can be found here.
India’s state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is seeking bids for the deployment of 3G femtocells in Delhi and Mumbai. A pilot project is expected to be up and running within 3 months. According to MTNL, the aim is to “develop world class telecom facilities for its esteemed subscribers and efficient utilization of spectrum which is a precious scare [sic] national resource”.
3G MicroCell selected as Light Reading ‘Top Pick’
Light Reading has selected AT&T’s 3G MicroCell as one of its Wireless Infrastructure Top Picks. According to Dan Jones, the Cisco-branded box is “an important proof point in the evolving femtocell industry” which could be important for AT&T in helping the company to “ease recent network congestion issues”.
The other Wireless Infrastructure Top Picks were Ericsson’s RBS 6000 software basestation and Vihaan Networks’ WorldGSM solar powered basestation.
Some time ago, ThinkFemtocell proposed that femtocells could improve the user experience for eBooks in the home. With this in mind, I was interested to see a discussion amongst users of Amazon’s Kindle eBook. Some users were having trouble downloading books over the AIRAVE’s CDMA 1x connection, and Amazon eventually confirmed that “EV-DO is necessary for a good web experience on the Kindle”. So it seems that 3G femtocells are needed in order for ThinkFemtocell’s vision to be realised. This might give Barnes & Noble an advantage with its own ereader, the “Nook”. Wireless connectivity for the Nook is provided by AT&T, which has already launched a 3G femtocell.
Light Reading reviews the Vodafone Access Gateway
Gabriel Brown summarises his experiences after a few months of using the VAG, concluding that “the technology works, is exceedingly simple to use, and has the potential to deliver advanced services and applications”. One particularly impressive feature is that the femtocell provides much greater coverage than WiFi, despite the “tiny amount of power the device puts out”. Gabriel notes that the industry should now feel confident to “move forward on developing advanced, high-value [femto] services”.
Total Telecom is also trialling the VAG, and “so far, it’s great”. But what they really want is an “all-singing, all-dancing router with WiFi, cellular, and home networking support” (some people are never satisfied J).
In other news…
- Node H demonstrates 16 simultaneous calls on Percello PRC6500 femto SoC.
- AIRCOM International explains why femtocells are important (part 3).
- Another user review of the Sprint AIRAVE.
- Femtocells are just an extension of cable companies’ long association with wireless backhaul.
- Femtocell panel planned for Fierce Wireless’ 4G Reality Check online conference.
- ThinkFemtocell interview with Ubiquisys’ Keith Day.
- Survey finds consumers are impatient for faster mobile Internet.
- And another survey finds the same thing.
- Stoke clings to dream of seamless WiFi-to-cellular roaming.
Filed under: Market updates | Tagged: AT&T 3G Microcell, eBooks, FCC, Femtocell, femtocells, MTNL, net neutrality, Vodafone Access Gateway
