Mobile firms join Femto Forum

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Key players in the communications industry, including Nokia and Telefonica O2, have signed up to the Femton Forum, a consortium dedicated to developing femtocell technologies.

Femtocells are low-power wireless access points that allow users to connect to their mobile operator's 3G network through a broadband connection.

Mobile operators are hoping the widescale adoption of the technology will end customer's struggles to get a decent signal in their home, and allow them to compete with landline operators such as BT on call packages.

"The simple proposition of lower costs, for both operators and consumers, combined with improved coverage and services is proving to be compelling," said Simon Saunders, chairman of the Femto Forum.

"The forum's work is now in full flow, with the major femtocell vendors and component providers actively working with operators to ensure that their products interoperate and meet the necessary demands to ensure successful widespread deployments."

Netgear, one of the Forum's seven founding members, announced in June that it will begin shipping femtocell routers in early 2008.

Motorola has just completed in-house testing of its own femtocell technology, and is about to begin field trials.

Alcatel-Lucent, Carphone Warehouse, Motorola NEC, Nokia Siemens Networks, Telefónica O2 and Thomson are among the new members.

According to analyst Ovum, 12 million femtocells will be deployed in Western Europe in 2010, rising to 17 million the following year.

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