Femtocell deployment: in search of viable Business Models

Abstract

Femtocell (Home NodeB for 3G: HNB, for LTE: HeNB) is a part of heterogeneous mobile networks, which becomes one of the particular promising application domain for so called TV White Spaces. It belongs to selforganizing of low power devices that are typically used to ensure an indoor coverage of different premises: the smaller cells are the more dynamic network you have. Due to this, HNB could be deployed within TV White Spaces without detailed frequencies re-use planning. Overall, the concept of HNB refers to a freedom of installation, increased macro network capacity, femto zone rates and even more. When deployed, HNB would provide better voice quality, higher data throughput to users, and reduced network deployment expenditures to operators that nowadays become very important issues. Unfortunately, a lot of technical challenges can be faced until the desirable result and performance will be achieved and as of today there is no such the way of benefit, which HNB could give both to operator and subscriber. This refers to the undoubted need of the elaboration of viable Business Models for femtocell deployment. This paper is focused on non-technical business side of introducing femtocell to the mobile technology by dealing with search of the most attractive way of HNB introduction into the industry that could provide common ground for discussion of the future of HNB, because unplanned deployment of HNB, mobility issues, different types of subscriber groups could cause a headache both for operator and subscriber.