IP-based Picocells being deployed in France
ip.access, the developers of picocell and femtocell solution, last week announced that it had teamed up with SPIE, provider of professional services to mobile operators in France, to speed up the deployment of picocells at SFR. The existing deployment at SFR is the first IP-based picocell commercial offering in France.
The offering is part of SFR’s ‘One Office’ service which sets it apart from other indoor repeater solutions. The exact number of picocell users was not revealed by the companies. However they are supposed to include both large (> 10000 employees) and small enterprises. Apart from SFR, over 40 mobile network operators worldwide have deployed ip.access picocells.
SPIE has a broad presence in France with potential to reach SFR customers. Moreover, SPIE will provide assistance in deploying ADSL lines that connects picocells to SFR’s core network.
Repeaters and picocells are designed to solve similar problems: indoor coverage. So where lies the difference? A picocell has the ability to improve data rates and capacity while as repeaters only improve coverage. There is the possibility to offer in-building bespoke tariffs with picocells, which is not possible with repeaters.
