Some 75 mobile network operators have deployed small cells
As carriers race to create true heterogeneous networks for consumers, the Small Cell Forum reported that some 10 million small cells have been shipped to mobile network operators.
Specifically, a market report commissioned by the industry group pins the shipping figure at 10.2 million units with some 75 mobile network operators deploying the technology. The Small Cell Forum report tallies 17,000 small cell deployments in rural or otherwise remote areas.
“This significant milestone shows how small cells are fast becoming key components in networks with over 10 million units now in the market,” said Alan Law, Small Cell Forum chairman. “This is being backed up by what we saw recently at Mobile World Congress with an incredible variety of announcements from operators, vendors and partners all pointing to a maturing market for a really exciting technology.”
Joe Madden, principal analyst at Mobile Experts, which delivered the market report, said the majority of deployments have been in “residential scenarios, but we have also seen a significant step upward in the enterprise and urban sectors.”
Our longstanding prediction that nonresidential small cells will ramp up in 2015 is becoming a reality, as capacity and indoor coverage are now critical for operators,” Madden added.
Among major small cell news out of Mobile World Congress 2015:
Cisco announced plans to resell SpiderCloud’s entire small cell portfolio.
Vodafone said it will be the first service provider to deliver the mobile service to its enterprise customers.
Wi-Fi equipment vendors are learning that they can improve performance by combining Wi-Fi with cellular connectivity.
Ruckus Wireless will help Alcatel-Lucent commercialize its new Wi-Fi boost technology. Alcatel-Lucent’s Wi-Fi boost measurably enhances and extends Wi-Fi performance by moving the uplink to the cellular network.
