Motorola runs 3G femtocell trials in Europe

Motorolaannounced that it has completed the testing of its 3G femtocell technology and has moved on to a trial with an undisclosed major European carrier.

The femtocell technology to be tested is based on open standards and includes customer premises equipment, 3G devices, core network concentrator, systems integration services, and Motorola's customer premises equipment management software, called Netopia Broadband Server.

Consumers benefit from the technology by being able to keep a phone call or an Internet session going as they transition from wireless networks inside their homes to outside networks. The switch is seamless when they use their 3G-enabled mobile devices, according to Motorola. The use of femtocells can potentially improve indoor wireless coverage and help reduce "in-home" call charges on mobile devices.

Femtocells are small base stations designed for use in homes and offices to help spread cellular coverage inside buildings. They will attract more than 100 million users in the next five years, according to ABI Research.

Carriers are expected to install femtocells to make their networks more efficient and to provide better cellular coverage indoors. Traffic will be routed using the Internet Protocol, which means carriers will be able to offer additional services like VoIPand IPTVto their subscribers.