Femtocells are small cellular base stations designed for indoor use in homes or businesses. They connect to the service provider's network via broadband and support 2 to 5 mobile devices, extending cellular coverage indoors. Femtocells incorporate the functionality of a typical base station but allow for simpler self-contained deployment in licensed spectrum using a fixed broadband connection, primarily for homes with lower power, smaller coverage, and supporting fewer subscribers than traditional base stations.

1. Femtocell Definition
• A small cellular base station, designed for use in residential or enterprise.
• Connects to the service provider’s network via broadband.
• Support 2 to 5 mobile.
• Allows service providers to extend service coverage indoors.

2. Femtocell Definition
• Confidential
• Incorporates the functionality of a typical base
station but extends it to allow a simpler, self
contained deployment.
• The concept is applicable to all wireless
standards, including UMTS, GSM, CDMA-
2000, TD-SCDMA and WiMAX solutions.

3. Benefits for end-users
• Depending on the pricing policy of the
MNO, special tariffs at home can be applied
for calls placed under femtocell coverage.
• For enterprise users, having femtos instead of
DECT or Wi-Fi dual mode phones enables
them to have a single phone, so a single
contact list etc.

4. Interference Conditions
• DL interference
– MS is affected by Macro/Femto BSs if it locates in the area
covered by Macro/Femto BSs
• UL interference
– Femtocell may be affected by the neighboring MS(s) which
associates with different Macro/Femto BS(s)
• In order to find out the DL interference situation, MS
needs to report the scan result to which it is
associated.
• In order to find out the UL interference situation, BSs
should exchange the scan reports.
4

5. Features of Femtocell
• Operates in the licensed spectrum
• Uses fixed broadband connection
• Principally intended for home
• Lower cost
• Smaller coverage (low power)
• Smaller number of subscriber (ten or less)
• Higher density

6. Conclusions
• Like FMC, Femtocells are on a road to now
• Unsatisfactory coverage and the increasing
number of high-data-rate application are two
driving forces for femtocell development
• Femtocells have the potential to provide
highquality
• network access to indoor users at low cost
• Improve coverage
• Provide huge capacity gain