Forget 4G Cell Towers, Bring on Femtocells

Will Mini Cell Towers Replace Giant Cell Towers Sitting on Rooftops and Hills? 

North America, Asia and Europe carriers are still debating and dragging their feet asking whether they should deploy citywide or one consumer at a time, using femtocells.  The industry has been talking about femtocells for many years and I have been reading headlines about the launch since 2007.  Its shocking that AT&T is ONLY rolling out its' 3G fetmocell (Microcell) today and no carrier to my knowledge has a 4G femtocell yet.  Why doesn't Clearwire / Sprint have a 4G femtocell?  

There are many headlines dating back to 2008 promoting femtocell launches by Clearwire (Wimax)  GigaOm and Electronita Verizon's 4G femtocell that never happened.  Is it for real this time and should you be concerned if I owned cell phone tower real estate or an investors in American Tower, SBA Communications or Crown Castle.  

Sprint Home Cell Tower or Femtocell

Sprint will be launching a 3G femtocell, a mini cell phone tower-like device that helps you get a better voice and data signal in your home or office. It will be a faster version of the wireless carrier’s 2G Airave product, according to documents filed with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The new Sprint femtocell will include a radio for the 3G service and a port for a VoIP (voice-over-IP) line.

A release date for the new femtocell is unknown but expected very soon considering the FCC filing. It may cost the same $100 as the current product and is also likely to carry a $5 monthly fee. When users make calls connected to the Airave, however, the time spent won't count towards plan minutes.

Sprint’s launch comes after AT&T announced its 3G AT&T MicroCell for $150 (+$20 per month) and just as a new study indicates the femtocells could proliferate in the next few years.

A femtocell operates like your personal mini cell phone tower. You connect the router-like device to your existing broadband landline service (cable or fiber) and it provides better indoor coverage for your phone. Sprint, who has reportedly partnered with Femtocell manufacturer Airvana to deliver the new product.

Airave, their $100 femtocell device made by Samsung, has been available nationwide since August 2008. However, Airave doesn’t support 3G - merely Sprint’s CDMA network with speeds of about 150 kilobits per second. Verizon’s solution, the $250 Wireless Network Expander, uses the same network as is only 2G as well.

Femtocells could help numerous customers with coverage issues when it comes to phone calls, but most require an additional monthly fee of $5-$20 per month. In addition, vendors such as Ubiquisys recently announced that the wholesale price of a femtocell has dropped to below $100.

Its usefulness is less obvious when it comes to data transfer, since most customers who own broadband lines already use the much-faster Wi-Fi at home.

Related posts: Sprint Service Plans and Coverage Review

The Best Sales Job in The World

Is Working for a Virtual Company Who is Improving the Wireless World

Job Location - Anywhere in World
Type - Full time or Part Time Contractor for Sales / Business Development  

Job Description - Looking for a sales executive who has relationships with wireless operators, cable operators & regional telecom infrastructure service providers. Full-time or part-time executive will be responsible for licensing our database of cell phone reception problems (dead zones, dropped calls, data congestion locations). Custome data sets are sold on a volume, regional and carrier basis. Target customers include companies who provide regional drive testing, RF testing, network optimization, cell tower installation, distributed antenna systems, cell tower operators and femtocell manufacturers. The executive should have familiarity with competitive data offerings such as Groundhog Tech, Carrier IQ, Nielsen (Telephia), GWS Wireless, AT&T "Mark the Spot" and Root Wireless.
 
Skils
•  At least 5 years experience in the wireless industry
•  Understanding of cellular industry, either from the operator or system vendor side
•  Excellent presentation skills
•  Project management skills is a plus
•  Marketing sense is a plus
•  Fluent in English or one of the major languages
•  Computer Skills: Microsoft Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint)

Company Description - Deadcellzones.com is a consumer-generated map of outdoor and indoor cellular coverage problem locations. The website is dedicated to identifying cell phone dead zones in buildings, homes and outdoors. These are locations where cell phone service is not available, calls are dropped or where network data congestion is frequent.  The website was founded in 2001 and has become the central hub for consumers and wireless to identify network coverage problems.  It is our mission to report coverage complaints efficiently to wireless carriers and mobile retailers through our mapping API.  The company licenses data to the following telecom infrastructure firms for both marketing and operations:  wireless operators, cable operators, distributed antenna, femtocell, repeater, VoIP, broadband and cell phone retailers. The map has a searchable map database of in-building and outdoor coverage problem locations and has been EBITDA positive since 2001.

Send resume, phone contact information and available time for a phone interview to jeff@deadcellzones.com

Rural Cellular Association Conference

Rural Cellular Coverage Map

Did you know there are almost 160+ rural cellular companies that compete with AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and others?  RCA is an association representing rural wireless telecommunications providers across the United States. rca-usa.org  Many of these same rural wireless carriers could be your best friend in the near future as wireless services become increasingly more competitive and local.  We think there is an enormous opportunity for these rural carriers to flex media marketing muscle and compete against the larger multi-billion dollar marketing behemoths.  We will be there to meet regional wireless operators, service providers and expose them to our database of rural cell phone dead zones and dropped call areas.

18th Annual RCA Convention - APRIL 27-30, 2010 - Rio Hotel & Casino • Las Vegas • Nevada

Hot Topics at the Conference 
04/21/10 RCA Applauds FCC's Vote to Eliminate In-Market Roaming Exclusion
04/08/10 FCC Announces Broadband Action Agenda
04/02/10 FCC to Hold Workshop on Critical Infrastructure and Information Collection
03/31/10 RCA Comments on 700 MHz Mobile Equipment Capability

Exhibiting Companies Include: 
AeroVoice
Airway Technologies
Alcatel-Lucent
ArdaCOM
ARIS Software, Inc.
Associated Network Partners, Inc. (ANPI)
Astellia, Inc.
Brightpoint
Cellatel, LLC
CellCast Technologies, LLC
Cellebrite USA
ClearSky Mobile Media
Commnet Supply - Telmar Network Technology
CommSoft
Connectiv Solutions
DigiCell International, Inc.
Eastpointe Industries, Inc.
eSecuritel
Exalt Communications, Inc.
Fibrebond Corporation
Flash Technology
GetWireless, LLC
G Unwired, Inc.
HickoryTech - Information Solutions
Hyde Company
Info Directions
Interop Techonologies
Intrado
Jinny Software, Ltd.
JTWO Wireless, LLC
Kyocera Communications, Inc.
Lemko Corporation
LG Electronics Mobilecomm USA, Inc.
MACH Americas
Mid America Computer Corporation
Movius
National Information Solutions (NISC)
Nexlink Communications, LLC
OSG Billing Services
Pario Solutions
Personal Communciations Devices, LLC
Planet Cellular, Inc.
Platinum Wireless
Primal Technologies
PSA
RADWIN
Rosenberger LEONI Site Solutions
Sabre Industries, Inc.
SaskTel International
Sonoran Systems, Inc.
Syniverse Technologies
Talley, Inc.
Taqua
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
Telsasoft
Tempest Telecom Solutions, LLC
Trango Systems
Transaction Network Services
US Mobile Phones
USA Digital Communications
V-Comm, LLC
Velleros, Inc.
Walker & Associates
WAU, Inc.
Wes-Tec, Inc.
Wireless One
Xentris Wireless
YAM Wireless
Yap, Inc.

AT&T Wifi Hotspot Locations Map

AT&T Wi-Fi Network of U.S. Hotspot Locations

Walmart & Target Indoor Reception Problems

Does Your Local Walmart or Target Store Have Cell Reception Problems Indoors?

I was shocked to learn after doing some database mining this week that Target and Walmart had some of the most complaints listed in our dead zones database.  Walmart (4,000 US stores) has over 20 locations listed as dead zones and Target (1,700+ US stores) has 15 locations listed as having poor reception in our consumer-generated coverage database.  This can't be a good thing especially for Walmart who recently announced a partnership offering TracFone pre-paid wireless plans.  These retailers are going to sell millions of cell phones yet many of them do not have good cell phone reception indoors.  I am sure we are not even scratching the surface of other Walmart and Target stores that also have horrible coverage.  Ironically, there was only one Best Buy store (1,000 US stores) listed in the database so they must be doing something different with their in-building coverage. 

To submit a coverage problem in a store, first, search our database and find out if your store is listed.  If not, submit the reception problem by dragging a pin into the location of the store on the map.  Cell phone reception can be improved indoors but someone needs to be informed that it doesn't work first! 

How to Report Cell Reception Problems

How to Report Cell Phone Reception Problems to AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, TracFone (Video)

Wireless coverage is a personal issue and most customers want transparency about where wireless service will work as advertised. Most coverage problems can be fixed with new cell phone towers, distributed antenna systems, picocells, repeaters and femtocells provided by the carrier

Step 1 - Select a carrier AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile or Other Carrier and search the map by zip code, city, state. Double click on pins to review the comments from others.
Step 2 - Grab the pin on the left-hand side of the map and drag it to the new location and add comments about the problem location and how often it occurs - In-building, Outdoors, Data Congestion, Dropped Calls
Step 3 - Share the map with your family, friends and colleagues to get the attention of your carrier in your neighborhood.
Step 4 - Check back frequently for comments posted by others, service providers to the carriers who try to fix the coverage problem with new antennas, cell phone towers, femtocells or repeaters.

LTE Cell Phone Tower Industry Growth

Stadiums & Airports Are A Focus for LTE 4G Not Current 3G Cell Phone Towers

LTE 4G cell phone tower build outs will NOT be as big of an opportunity as projected by the analysts for the cell phone tower operators like American Tower, SBA Communications and Crown Castle. Carriers are taking a much more rifled and focused approach to building out new towers versus the shotgun approach used for 3G network build outs.  Carriers are taking 3+ years to build out the new faster networks and only will do it if the demand is there.  

New cell sites are getting built at 4G airports & stadiums that have concentrations of people and customers.  These high traffic areas first are also getting smaller cell tower antennas which are taking on different forms like distributed antenna systems and femtocells.  Tower operators are starting to use new systems built by femtocell manufacturers that are starting to eat into the traditional cell tower business.  One other new industry growth opportunity would be for one of the cell tower operators to get into the Wi-Fi business because many speculate that Wi-Fi cell phone towers are the future.

In order to understand this read up on the "inside out" strategy for building the LTE networks. Carriers are building out LTE 4G much differently than they did 3G which was much of a shotgun approach without much focus. Carriers will focus on smaller sites first like stadiums, malls, hotels and homes (using femtocells) and then move to build out where capacity is needed most. Its not the same as a 3G where they blanketed entire markets. Carriers also recognize that devices aren't ready yet for the masses and most people are not going to be watching movies in their cars or outdoors.  This is why AT&T to Spend $1B on Free Femtocells does not bode well for the cell phone tower operators who don't have their tentacles in this market yet.

Article in reference to: Tower industry primed for growth with carrier buildouts - RCR Wireless News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Ree related posts: Forget 4G Cell Towers, Bring on Femtocells

AT&T to Spend $1B on Free Femtocells

AT&T To Give Away 10 million Microcells (Femtocells)

AT&T plans to spend $4B to enhance its network and $1B of this to be allocated at giving away 10 million  Microcells at $100 each.  This is only 12% of their entire customer base and we speculate that its' loyal small business customers who desperately need home or business coverage will get priority.  We are simply foreshadowing the inevitable news that AT&T seems to be avoided as they can sell early adopters this first iteration of the Cisco manufactured AT&T Home Cell Tower or MicroCell for $150.

AT&T has rolled this out in about a half dozen markets and claims they will go Nationwide later this spring or summary.  I think they are testing the market to see how early adopters are just willing to pay $150 and $20 per month for enhanced in-building coverage.  We speculate they are going to be forced into giving away a minimum of 10M femtocells (Microcell mini cell phone towers) to its' customers that cost them $100 each because of pressures from the cable operators and the smaller operators.  These mini cell phone towers will fix the horrible coverage more than 40M of AT&T's customers have indoors. 10M microcells would only be a fraction of their customer base of 80M that actually needs the product or may switch to another dump pipe operator in the near future.

See our related posts about the Microcell:  AT&T Customers Will Soon Be Happy,

Obama's Emergency Internet Shutdown Workshop

How The US Will the Shut the Net Down in an Emergency?

As Americans increasingly rely on broadband services for so many aspects of their lives, including public safety and national security, it is critical for the FCC to gain a better understanding of the survivability of existing networks and explore potential measures to reduce network vulnerability to failures in network equipment or severe overload conditions in emergencies.  

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) will hold a workshop on April 13, at 9:00 AM ET to discuss communications infrastructure and information collection. The workshop will focus on reliability and security of the nation’s communications critical infrastructure. Discussion will address both protecting and securing communications and information systems and incentives that should be in place to encourage increased resiliency and security in communications networks. More information can be found at FCC.gov To attend this online workshop in-person, register online at FCC Registration.  Audio/Video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's web page at FCC.gov/live. The FCC’s web cast is free to the public and does not require pre-registration.

AT&T's Microcell U-Verse Set-Top Box

AT&T's Microcell U-Verse Set-Top Box

AT&T is reportedly working on a U-Verse IPTV set-top box that will include a Femtocell, claims an anonymous employee. This unit will cover TV, telephone, internet and improve your cellular reception with its Microcell technology included to route cell phone calls through broadband. Owners of iPhones, Blackberry's and 3G phones will be excited to hear any news but will it be enough to get you to switch from Fios, Time Warner, Comcast, Cox or Cable Vision?  The all-in-one box is said to launch in 2010, while U-Verse continues to expand throughout the U.S. However, in addition to this news comes the 3G Microcell, AT&T's stand-alone Femtocell, which is out in limited locations throughout the US.  Features include:

* Full bars indoors - supports voice and data up to 5000 square feet.
* Available unlimited minute plans - Individual or Family Plan.
* 3G handset compatible - works with any AT&T 3G Phone.
* Up to 4 simultaneous voice or data users supported.
* Device is secure - cannot be accessed by unauthorized users.
* Seamless call hand-over between Microcell and cell towers.

It has also been speculated by insiders and lightly reported in the media that AT&T will Spend $1 billion dollars on Free Femtocells for its customers or approximately 10M customers.  This accounts for only 12% of its 80 million customers who could likely see a free Microcell if they complain loud enough and are high ARPU customers.

Satellite Coverage Maps for Cell Phones

Satellite Coverage Maps You Can Believe

SkyTerra's satellite network system operates over North America and within 200 nautical miles of the waterways surrounding North America.  Terrastar's coverage map is a lot more believable coming from low level orbit versus AT&T's, Verizon & Sprint maps which are derived from cell phone towers on the ground.    Satellite cell phone service is coming to the masses and should be a viable alternative to the congested and spotty cellular networks.  If you have needs for reliable cell phone coverage, especially in the Western US you will be a good candidate for this new service.  

A prominent New York hedge fund billionaire intends to take on several of the country's biggest telecoms by building a massive 4G wireless network that one analyst has called "breathtaking in its ambition." Harbinger Capital Partners, run by Philip Falcone, and SkyTerra announced a merger -- a take-private deal with an enterprise value of nearly $2 billion, according to the companies. The FCC formally approved the deal last Friday.

Harbinger issued a statement saying it's building a new network that will cover most of the country by 2015, with tests rolling out in Denver and Phoenix next year. Falcone aims to use spectrum owned by his satellite investments -- including SkyTerra and TerraStar -- to build a wholesale data network "that could be resold by anyone wanting to offer 4G services to their customers, such as retailers or laptop/device manufacturers."

SkyTerra's satellite network system operates over North America and within 200 nautical miles of the waterways surrounding North America. Certain technical considerations and limitations, as well as the nature of customer terminals, can affect the availability of service in certain areas, including Alaska and Canada. In addition, the availability of service at the edge of coverage fluctuates depending on various conditions.

Related Article:

82% of the World is a Cellular Dead Zone

AT&T's 'Mark The Spot' iPhone App Review

10 Reasons Why AT&T's iPhone App Fails

This image is just one of the many reasons why AT&T's "Mark the Spot" iPhone app is a failure to customers and the wireless industry that services the telecom giant. One would believe that as an iPhone user, telling AT&T where their coverage stinks will help fix their coverage problems but most believe including me it is far more of a PR tool than anything.  AT&T claims they are generating lots of data each month from the "Mark the Spot" app but here are ten reasons why ultimately it fails to meet customer and industry expectations.

1. Fails to report dropped call, failed call, no coverage, data failure, poor voice quality if no data or cell coverage available regardless of GSM signal strength 
2. Fails to report the coverage problem indoors or do not have a view of the sky
   
3. Highly protective of complaint data and does not share with customers or public 
4. Only works on the iPhone and maybe Blackberry soon (i hear)
5. Data generated is concentrated in major metropolitan areas and neglects rural customers
6. No incentive for the customer who contributes data (rebates, femtocell, microcell, free service)
7. No feedback loop if the data is being used to actually fix coverage or just thrown into the trash
8. No published summary of users contributing the data and volume of complaints 
9. Infrastructure service providers are developing their own apps and begging for the data
10. AT&T does not accept customer complaints on their own web site ATT.com & management has endless amounts of excuses why they will not license our data.