Femtocell market set for 2010 ramp up

Despite the buzz surrounding the femtocell market, 2008 will probably be a low-key year for femtocell vendors with only about 100,000 units expected to ship, according to predictions from ABI Research.
By 2010, however, the market will begin a serious ramp-up, hitting double-digit millions in volume, said ABI.
“By 2010, femtocell silicon solutions will have been optimized to the degree that $100 price points for femtocell access points will be within reach, and OEMs’ order books will have the volume to sustain critical wholesale price reductions,” said Stuart Carlaw, VP and research director at ABI.
“The turning point for this market will be late 2009,” said Carlaw. “There is little doubt that all the technical hurdles regarding femtocell deployments can be overcome. The really critical issue will be whether initial carrier deployments are supported by robust business models and service plans that extend beyond pure fixed-mobile substitution goals.”