O2 to launch own broadband service

[old bill]

Just found out that O2 is to lauch their own broadband service. No details as yet but you can register for more info from the link below.

http://broadband.o2.co.uk/welcome.php

[pctech]

This has been on the cards a while OB as they acquired Be in 2006 which would therefore give them access to appropriate agreements to install DSL termination kit in BT exchanges which would be linked to their own network.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when operators start offering routers with integrated femtocells so that your mobile calls get routed via your DSL connection (like having your own basestation)

At the mo O2 are only offering deals to pay monthly customers, if they do something for prepay I might look at migrating my connection.

[Planner]

Femto cells should in theory be getting rolled out next year by all operators, however, as a radio planner/ optimiser for one of them, I have yet to see any advice on how we will fit them into the network (with regards to frequencies. scrambling codes and handovers) or any info on them physically being implemented. this leads me to believe it may be further away

[pctech]

Hmm yes
Am I correct in thinking that Base Transceiver Stations (oir in the 3G case Node Bs) are linked to Regional Base Station Controllers?

I suppose thinking on an IP network basis you might have regional servers that the femtocells log onto?

What is the difference between a standard GSM BTS and a Node B anyway?

pctech

[bsrjl1]

The femtos I've seen are programmed to the operator's frequency then do a scan on powerup to see which codes they can see & choose something else. Then as you move away, they they tell the Ue to handover to the best neighbour site & the femto controller sets up the radio link just like an Iur.

[Planner]

BTS's & Node B's are controlled by BSC's and RNC's respectively, they are a sort of area controller.

the difference is, BTS's are 2nd generation GSM and frequency driven, where as Node B's are 3rd generation, UMTS (WCDMA) and scrambling code driven. completely different technologies.

BSR,

if they arent defined as a neighbour, they cant tell the network to do anything, they are just interference and any call on them, will drop as soon as you move out of range. each Node B, has a maximum set of 32 3g-3g neighbours, so if your in a city, these neighbours are going to be maxed out on Macro cells, so how will you get a single femto defined, nevermind potentially hundreds (in the case of a block of flats) also, each one will require its own scrambling code (defined) or in the case of 2G, frequency, so i dont see how this is possible.

[pctech]

Ah, now I understand, cheers for a very interesting explanation Planner.

I suppose that Nokia-Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson are probably working hard on something as we speak....

I just hope that if O2 launch a good offer in return for using my broadband connection as backhaul that they leave me enough bandwidth to surf with.

Going to be interesting to see what happens.

[Planner]

in theory, it should only use 12.5-16Kbp of your broadband as backhaul for voice. no more really than your landline

[pctech]

ah thats good news then.

[pctech]

looks like its now go

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/04/o2_broadband_details/

Looks pricey and I dont know where they get off charging a £10 premium for prepay customers, a customer is a customer, they give you money, either before or after in exchange for service.

[pctech]

looks like Orange already have plans to launch picocells
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/05/orange_picocells/