Ubiquisys and Public Wireless Announce Availability of the First 3G Metro Femtocell
Public Wireless Colo-Node HSPA hotspot solution provides rapid-response coverage and capacity using ubiquitous IP backhaul
Milpitas CA, USA and Swindon, UK — 24th March 2010 — Public Wireless, the specialist in wireless siting solutions, and Ubiquisys, the leader in 3G femtocells, today announced the commercial availability of the Public Wireless Colo-Node HSPA, the first metro femtocell solution specifically designed for outdoor hotspot locations. Metro femtocells are an elegant solution to the smartphone-led explosion in capacity demand, providing voice coverage and capacity for data hungry users precisely when and where it is needed. These hotspots may be found in busy urban centers, train stations, crowded event venues or topographically diverse suburban and rural locations.
The Public Wireless Colo-Node HSPA is a new class of device: a metro femtocell that provides a targeted, low-cost solution that can be rapidly installed and easily maintained. It automatically complements the existing macro network and adapts to changes in the adjacent macro and femtocell networks. Unlike a traditional base station, Colo-Node HSPA does not use the increasingly congested radio access network for backhauling to the core network. Instead it uses the ubiquitous, low-cost IP infrastructure already deployed — typically cable or DSL. A single Colo-Node HSPA metro femtocell provides a range of up to 2km at pedestrian and vehicular speeds.
The Colo-Node HSPA is part of a range of metro cell solutions based on Public Wireless' proven Distributed Network Element (DNE) platform, building on the company's expertise in wireless hotspots. The platform includes all the necessary equipment to make a highly functional outdoor metro cell deployment: a compact ruggedized casing designed for pole or strand co-location, IP backhaul, power amplifier, management system interfaces, and an external antenna. This platform can support many of the currently deployed wireless standards in one single location. Public Wireless can integrate all 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies in this single box. WiFi 802.11n is also a supported option.
Each Colo-Node HSPA unit contains up to four Ubiquisys femtocell modules, each with 16 calls / 14.4Mbps HSPA data capacity. The modules are powered by Ubiquisys Femto-Engine software, which ensures adaptive compatibility with the macro network and provides handover with other femtocells and the macro network for service continuity. If the macro is re-planned, the metro femto immediately adapts according to operator policies.
"We are very excited about the results of our collaboration with Ubiquisys, delivering a solution for high density and capacity using a small footprint and low power," explains Rich Kerr, CEO of Public Wireless. "We look forward to deploying this in many places where call volume and data traffic are critical."
"The Public Wireless Colo-Node HSPA is another step towards realising our vision of femtocells as a universal unit of mobile coverage and capacity," said Chris Gilbert, CEO Ubiquisys. "Our Femto-Engine technology, combined with Public Wireless' expertise in turnkey leased sites, fundamentally changes the economics of 3G hotspots."
Public Wireless has pioneered wireless siting solutions, providing operators with a simple leasing model to meet their coverage and capacity requirements, and provides alternative wireless siting solutions where traditional development costs and/or zoning and permitting processes have made deployment prohibitive. Public Wireless' low-impact, turnkey solutions allow for the introduction of coverage and capacity within a targeted 90-day deployment process. Public Wireless executes all critical tasks required to get sites on-air quickly and under budget, so service providers can focus on their business and network build-out objectives.
The Colo-Node HSPA hotspot is available in June 2010 for UMTS bands 1, 2 and 5 for the Americas, European and Asian GSM/UMTS Mobile Operators.
About Ubiquisys
Ubiquisys is a leading provider of femtocell systems, with worldwide commercial deployments including SFR in France and SoftBank in Japan. Its Femto-Engine software system creates a complete ready-to-deploy 3G femtocell, providing proven self-organising capabilities off-the-shelf. Ubiquisys Hardware Blueprints enable manufacturers to rapidly produce low-cost "Engine-Ready" femtocells for Consumer, Business, Enterprise Self-Organising Networks (SONs), Metro and Rural applications. Ubiquisys investors include Google and T-Mobile Venture Fund. (www.ubiquisys.com)
About Public Wireless
Public Wireless is a private company which provides turn key leased sites for major carriers using state of the art technology and solutions. They provide complete services from RF site planning, installation, to full maintenance and customer service. (www.publicwireless.com)