AUSTIN, TX — (Marketwire) — 12/11/12 — To meet the rising demand for mobile data, operators will need to pursue a multi-pronged approach to upgrading and backfilling for capacity and throughput on their cellular voice/data networks. This approach, which combines RAN upgrades, new licensed spectrum, Wi-Fi, small cells and distributed antenna systems (DAS), is typically referred to as the heterogeneous network or het-net.
Metrocells, one part of the het-net, are low power small cell sites that operate on an operator-s licensed frequency to provide additional coverage and/or capacity in a given urban area. iGR differentiates between a metrocell and a picocell as follows: iGR uses -picocell- to refer to enterprise and/or venue-specific indoor deployments of small cells that handle data (examples of venues include convention centers, hotels, office buildings and/or corporate campuses, stadiums). Metrocells are defined by iGR for outdoor deployments in urban areas.
Residential femtocells, defined as standalone, self-configuring, lower power (in the range of 20 milliwatts) small base stations that operate on a given carrier-s licensed spectrum, are one way mobile operators can improve the quality of their subscribers- cellular voice service, primarily from the standpoint of creating or improving coverage inside a home. Most residential femtocells deployed in the U.S. today were rolled out to improve coverage for high-value customers. Moving forward, iGR believes that this will be the primary use case for residential femtocells, as well.
The following iGR small cell studies have recently been updated to include detailed profiles of twenty-six companies that provide solutions to the small cell market. Each profile includes an overview of the size and history of the company, as well as a summary of its small cell solutions and deployments.
iGR-s market research report, U.S. Metrocells Total Addressable Market, 2011 – 2017: Supplying Capacity Where It-s Needed, provides an overview of the total addressable market for metrocells and provides a forecast of the theoretical maximum size of the market.
iGR-s market research report, U.S. Residential Femtocell Total Addressable Market, 2011 – 2017: Measuring the impact in the home, provides an overview of the total addressable market for femtocells and provides a forecast of the theoretical maximum size of the market. In addition, the new report also forecasts the U.S. installed base for residential femtocells.
iGR-s market research report, Residential Femtocells: Impact on Carrier Grades, provides details on how consumers view in-home coverage, the factors that drive their assessment of their mobile operator-s service, awareness and use of femtocells, and how a femtocell would improve the rating their give their operator.
“By 2016, iGR expects the average consumer-s consumption of mobile data in the U.S. to increase by ten times over the level in 2011,” said Iain Gillott, president and founder of iGR. “The mobile networks must adapt to this vastly increased demand and we see small cells as an important part of the solution.”
The following key questions are addressed in iGR-s research studies:
What is a metrocell?
How do metrocells fit into operators- evolving networks?
Where are metrocells most likely to be located? What-s their role?
How much mobile data do U.S. end users consume and/or demand?
How much mobile data capacity will be required in the next five years?
What is a femtocell?
What is the total addressable market for residential femtocells in the U.S?
How can femtocells be used to offload macro cellular network traffic?
How do residential femtocells impact a U.S. consumer-s wireless service experience?
Who are the vendors in the small cell industry and what products, including femtocells, picocells and metrocells, do they provide?
The information in these reports will be valuable for:
Mobile operators
Infrastructure OEMs
Small cell product and solution vendors
Backhaul service providers and equipment OEMs
Content providers and distributors
Financial analysts and investors.
The reports can be purchased and downloaded directly from iGR-s website at Alternatively, contact Iain Gillott at (512) 263-5682 or at for additional details.
iGR is a market strategy consultancy focused on the wireless and mobile communications industry. Founded by Iain Gillott, one of the wireless industry-s leading analysts, in late 2000 as iGillottResearch, iGR is now entering its twelfth year of operation. iGR continuously researches emerging and existent technologies, technology industries, and consumer markets. We use our detailed research to offer a range of services to help companies improve their position in the marketplace, clearly define their future direction, and ultimately improve their bottom line.
iGR researches a range of wireless and mobile products and technologies, including: smartphones; tablets; mobile applications; bandwidth demand and use; small cell architectures; DAS; LTE; WiMAX; VoLTE; IMS; NFC; GSM/GPRS/UMTS/HSPA; CDMA 1x/EV-DO; iDEN; SIP; macro-, pico- and femtocells; mobile backhaul; WiFi and WiFi offload; and SIM and UICC.
A more complete profile of the company can be found at .
Contact iGR
Iain Gillott
(512) 263-5682
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