One of the biggest challenges facing wireless subscribers is a lack of indoor coverage, say analysts at In-Stat. The timing of 3G service rollouts is making this problem more relevant, as carriers realize that 3G services will have limited success without addressing the indoor coverage issue, the high-tech market research firm says.

“The cost to address these shortcomings with traditional macro base station solutions is
too high and not possible for most mobile operators,” says In-Stat.

"Microcells, picocells, and femtocells address these challenges in a much more cost-effective manner," says Allen Nogee, In-Stat analyst. "By providing smaller and less powerful base stations in smaller areas, like public spaces, offices, and even homes, carriers can provide better coverage in more specific areas without a huge capital investment."

In-Stat expects femtocells, picocells, and microcells to surpass 31 million units by 2012.
No doubt will all this in mind, Nokia Siemens Networks and Pirelli Broadband Solutions, a supplier of CPE, set-top boxes and remote management systems for the connected home and office, have signed an agreement for cooperation on 3G Femto Home Access solution.

Pirelli’s femto-enabled CPEs coupled with the 3G Femto Home Access network solution from Nokia Siemens Networks will enable operators to introduce femtocell-based services to home and small office environments through a wide choice of CPE models developed by Pirelli in compliance with the Nokia Siemens Networks’ open architecture.