Singapore cable co. launches 3G femtocell network

StarHub and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. announced the launch of a new, commercially available 3G femtocell network in Singapore, which they said provides mobile-phone services through the carrier’s cable network.
StarHub has launched Home Zone to its customers and uses 3G femtocells, portable cellular access devices that connect a customer’s 3G handset directly to a MaxOnline-enabled router in the home. This allows users to make voice and video calls and send text messages over the company’s cable network from their mobile phones.
“While services such as Voice-over-IP have been available for some years, these are restricted to VoIP-enabled mobile phones,” Anil Nihalani, StarHub’s head of mobile and communications, said in a statement. “The beauty of the 3G femtocell is that all 3G-enabled phones are supported and customers do not need to purchase special handsets to take advantage of it.”
For customers that subscribe to Home Zone, the company is offering free local outgoing voice and video calls and text messaging. Standard costs will be applied for mobile downloads, mobile surfing and other services. The service also allows for up to four devices to make simultaneous calls using a single Home Zone connection.
For the network, StarHub is using a femtocell solution developed by Huawei. The Chinese company’s portable wireless access device connects 3G mobile handsets directly to a standard broadband DSL or cable service to provide mobile voice and data coverage in a home or business. Femtocell technology is useful for areas where broadband access would otherwise be limited or unavailable.
“StarHub’s launch of Home Zone is a significant milestone for the commercial development of the femtocell industry,” Wan Biao, Huawei’s executive deputy president for wireless product line, said in a statement.
StarHub’s Home Zone service is being offered for $30 a month.