femtoceller

A femtocell is a small, low‑power cellular base station that provides enhanced indoor mobile coverage and capacity by connecting to the mobile operator's network over a broadband Internet connection. It is typically deployed in homes or small businesses where signal is weak and is managed by the operator.

Femtocells operate by serving as a local cell site in licensed spectrum. A user’s mobile device communicates with the femtocell, which uses the same operator credentials (SIM) and connects back to the operator's core network over the customer's broadband connection (DSL, cable, fiber). In 3G networks they are referred to as Home Node B (HNB); in later LTE networks as Home eNodeB (HeNB). The connection to the core network usually passes through a secure gateway or dedicated backhaul to protect traffic and control signaling.

Deployment and benefits: They improve indoor coverage, increase data throughput, and help relieve congestion on macro cells in dense areas; can support multiple simultaneous users; typically used by operators to extend coverage without expanding macro sites. They can be deployed in homes, small offices, or enterprise environments.

Limitations and considerations: dependent on a reliable broadband connection; performance and quality of service vary with backhaul quality; security concerns include restricted access to authorized users and potential for interference with the macro network if misconfigured; E911 locations must be supported; not all devices may connect to a femtocell; regulatory and operator policies apply.

See also: Home Node B, HeNB, small cell, VoLTE.