Above shows a functional diagram of UMA supporting 2G and 3G femtocell access points.

US : Kineto Wireless and Ubiquisys announced that the companies are collaborating on a femtocell solution that employs the 3GPP UMA standard to provide mobile core network integration. As a result of this collaboration, operators will be able to implement a standardized, cost-effective, and secure access-network system that supports large-scale femtocell deployments, leveraging the existing embedded base of 2G and 3G cell phones.

Femtocells are low-cost cellular access points for mobile operators looking to provide enhanced 2G or 3G coverage within homes and small businesses. Made possible through recent advances in low-cost 2G/3G silicon, as well as through advanced radio frequency planning techniques, femtocells are receiving interest from operators globally. However, key to sustainable, mass-market femtocell adoption is a standards-based core-network connectivity solution that supports cost-effective large-scale deployments. This standards-driven approach is central to both Kineto's UMA-based offerings and the Ubiquisys ZoneGate femtocell system.

"Operators are looking to UMA as a standard for extending mobile voice, data, and IMS services over broadband IP access networks," said Will Franks, chief technology officer at Ubiquisys. "Through our collaboration with Kineto, operators will benefit from our low-cost ZoneGate femtocell technology, combined with a scalable, cost-effective access solution that provides consumers with high-quality, low-cost indoor mobile coverage."

Developed to enable millions of dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handsets to integrate into core mobile networks over any broadband connection, the 3GPP UMA standard is ideally suited to address the femtocell access network challenge. By adding UMA support within femtocells, operators will be able to fully realize the coverage, capacity, and cost benefits of femtocells with a standardized, cost-effective, and scalable core network interface.

"We are pleased to be working with a true innovator and leading provider of femtocell solutions on this initiative," said Gary Sarson, vice president of business development with Kineto Wireless. "Applying UMA to the core network integration challenge promises to accelerate the femtocell market."

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