concLUSion
Mobile operators have begun to
realize the strategic imperative of HZ2.0. The home is an
extremely competitive telecom location and represents
an enormous growth opportunity. However, the existing
macro radio network does not meet the cost or performance
requirements to win the `battle for the building.'
Low-power access points (femtocells and Wi-Fi) offer
advantages for mobile operators to address indoor mobile
radio performance. By leveraging broadband and IP as a
backhaul network technology, operators can dramatically
lower the cost of delivering services.
HZ2.0 services relying on broadband access and low
power access points (femtocells and Wi-Fi) are being
deployed by operators today. UMA is the technology that
powers HZ2.0.
Internet &
Broadband
UMA Network Controller
(a.k.a. RAN Gateway)
WiFi
2G/3G
2G/3G
Home Zone
Mobile Core
Network
(Circuit, Packet,
IMS services)
Mobile Core
Network
(Circuit, Packet,
IMS services)
2G/3G
Figure 2: Home Zone 2.0 solution using low-power access points and broadband backhaul
For those who still believe UMA will be short lived,
it can now support 3G, is backed by the 3GPP, has a
clear migration roadmap to IMS and is becoming the
default case for femtocells.
Stéphane Téral, principal analyst
with Infonetics Research