Summary
The Airvana research validates offloading of mobile networks, but the pitch for femtocells relies on indoor usage.
Analysis
Airvana’s research in the source article presents the case for femtocells with the 8x load multiplier of smartphones compared to laptops. The research is by Airvana engineers and does not specify if lab-tested or field-measured. Airvana validly points that data loads from smartphones are 8x lighter than laptops. The smartphone differences are always on, push-based apps, migrating between cells, and polling the network. The Airvana vice president also cites that 60% of all mobile data traffic originates indoors. Airvana’s pitch is justifying femtocells. And the press release is timed for the FCC vote on net neutrality and the Chairman’s prior suggestion of femtocells and smart antennas at the CTIA I.T. and Entertainment Conference. But the statistic of 60% mobile originating indoors has a discrepancy. Mobile services are inherently “mobile” with the user leaving homes and offices during a connection. Can carriers ensure seamless connection from femtocell to the mobile networks? And with the class actions on the Apple iPhone and Microsoft Danger, do carriers want femtocells to be a risk for more contentious customers? Let’s watch if the FCC vote on network neutrality impacts the femtocell-carrier relationships of Airvana and Samsung with Verizon and IP.Access/Cisco with AT&T.
Gregg Kail, MBA consults with leading institutions through GLG
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
