Ericsson has world's smallest GSM radio base station for home

Ericsson has launched its Femto Cell Solution. Consumers using GSM and WCDMA phones will now be able to use their mobile phones at home, with the price advantages offered by fixed-line and internet phones.

The Femto Cell Solution includes a home access point that is, in itself, the world’s smallest GSM radio base station. The home access point is compatible with GSM and WCDMA phones and also includes WiFi and ADSL.Â ItÂ enables the operator to offer a “home-area” tariff to all the people living in a household.

Ulf Ewaldsson, Vice President and Head of Product Area Radio at Ericsson, says: “This is a major technological breakthrough. The Femto Cell Solution enables mobile operators to compete on the fixed access market, offering price-competitive, innovative and secure services to their customers.”

The Femto Cell Solution allows the operator to strengthen its relationship with subscribers and provides an incentive for all users in that household to have the same mobile operator, in order to get the home-area tariff and dedicated services.

Femto Cell’s home access point is connected, plug-and-play, to any existing IP backhaul network, and the end user’s mobile phone will switch to the indoor radio base station automatically as he or she walks through the door.

Ericsson’s Femto Cell Solution will be available through selected operators, starting in mid-2007.