Looking to expand its reach into the growing heterogeneous networks space, The DAS Forum announced this morning that it will be changing its name to the HetNet Forum. The news comes the day of the DAS Forum event being held in New Orleans, which RCR Wireless News will be covering from the event.
“The move reflects the group’s increasingly diverse membership and its focus on advancing the variety of small cell solutions – distributed antenna systems, microcells, picocells, Wi-Fi and remote radio units – that use licensed and unlicensed spectrum to link to the macrocellular network,” the trade organization noted in a press release.
The HetNet Forum, which is part of trade association PCIA, said it represents more than 60 companies working in the small cell architecture space. The association noted that its first official HetNet Expo will take place next year.
The small cell space has a number of trade association vying for members, including the Small Cell Forum, which last year changed its name from the Femto Forum in a move to also break into the broader hetnet sphere.
“This is a key transition at the right time for our industry,” said Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of PCIA. “HetNet Forum members are using every tool in their toolbox to deliver wireless broadband to consumers everywhere – indoors and outdoors, urban and rural. This unique organization provides an excellent forum for members to further develop their businesses and deploy urgently needed wireless capacity to meet the exploding demand for wireless data to be available at any time, and in any place.”
Infonetics Research noted last month that the femtocell market surged 66% between the third quarter and fourth quarter of 2012. For the full year, the market totaled $425 million, an increase of 21% over 2011. However, Infonetics said that “4G” femtocell revenue is growing at a five-year annual compound growth rate of 165% for the period of 2012-2017.
Check out a recent RCR Wireless News report on the small cell market: “Small cells set to be a big part of LTE.”
Also, check out a Google Hangout RCR Wireless News conducted with Senza Fili President and Founder Monica Paolini on the topic of small cells.
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