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Femtocell in 3G SYSTEMS
Femtocell in 3G SYSTEMS
EE5517
FEMTOCELLS IN 3G (CDMA2000 AND UMTS)
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
ABSTRACT
In this Group Project, A detailed report on Femtocells in 3G systems for CDMA2000 and
UMTS is produced. In the first chapter, an introduction was provided which included the Aim and
Objectives of this report, the introduction to Femtocell which gives a general overview of Femtocell,
the benefits of using Femtocell to the User and the Network Operator. Then, examples of places
where Femtocell has been deployed all over the world was given.
In the second chapter, the Network Architecture of Femtocells which included detailed
explanations and well-labelled diagrams were described. It explains the overall layout of the
Femtocell Network which includes elements such as Femtocell Access points, Security gateway and
Femtocell device management system. It also describes two main network models used to support
circuit-switched services which are SIP/IMS and Legacy Network Models. It finally explains how
Femtocells interwork with Packet Data Networks (PDN) and Local breakout which allows Femtocell
to connect to their local home without traversing the Mobile operator’s network.
Femtocell Radio Technology was described in chapter three, radio requirements for proper
implementation of Femtocell was discussed. The interference scenarios, avoidance and mitigation
techniques were explained. Femtocell access control also which prevents unauthorized access to
the Femtocell network. And finally, seamless mobility and handover across Femtocell-Macrocell
boundary was explained. In chapter four, other issues and challenges facing Femtocell were
discussed which include Quality of Service, Security, Power and Health issues. Also Spectrum
accuracy and synchronization were explained. Techniques and Measures were also provided.
Finally, Real-life and Real-time applications for Femtocells were provided which includes the
Bring life to home and life to mobile use of Femtocell which involves its use as an emergency
support service, its green benefits, its Self Optimization and Femtocell as a payment tool.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Contents Page
1. Introduction 1
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
5. Application of Femtocell 29
6. Conclusions 34
7. References 35
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
1 INTRODUCTION
The aim of this project is to provide students with the opportunity to conduct a group
assignment on a wireless communications related topic such as Femtocells in 3G systems (CDMA
2000 and UMTS).
Objectives of the project are:
To provide a detailed and well structured report on Femtocells in 3G systems.
To develop team working, technical report writing and presentation skills.
Experienced team working and peer assessment.
Developed information gathering and Enhanced inter-personal gathering.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Accordingly, Femtocells must fulfill the below criteria to provide the above benefits:
Low-impact: Space may be limited for some households. As a result Femtocells must be physically
small, ideally aesthetically pleasing and easy to position. Furthermore, they should also be silent in
operation, generate low levels of heat output and inexpensive to run in terms of on-going
[electricity] costs.
Low RF power: The transmit RF power output of Femtocells is low; between 10 and 100 milli-watts.
Put in perspective, this is a lower power level than many Wi-Fi access points, which can be specified
up to 1 Watt of output power. Additionally, by being close to the Femtocell the 3G handset is itself
able to transmit at lower power levels than it might otherwise have to when on the macro network.
Capacity: Femtocells are aimed at delivering dedicated 3G coverage to a household and in doing so
can provide a very good end-user experience within the home environment. As a result, Femtocells
have a design “capacity” of up to 6 end-users.
Low-cost: There is significant competition for access solutions in the home space. Wi-Fi is
commonplace, easy to install/configure, provide a very good benchmark in terms of performance,
and are highly cost effective. Femtocells will be offered for purchase via their Operators. This may
be direct or through resellers. Energy offset - Low-power consumption – Clearly if the end-user is to
foot the bill for the electrical energy consumed by the Femtocell base-station then this figure must
be low enough not to raise concerns as to its impact on the fuel bill. That said, from an Operator’s
perspective, this OPEX is effectively offloaded, which makes the business case for Femtocells even
more attractive.
Easy end-user installation: Like cable modems and DSL routers, Femtocells will be installed by
consumers and activated through service providers. This means that the Operator no longer has to
employ installation teams or have a truck-roll every time a new Femtocell is “deployed”. From the
end-user perspective the unit must be a simple “plug and play” installation with a minimal amount
of intervention required.
Backhaul via broadband: Femtocells utilize Internet protocol (IP) and flat base-station
architectures. Backhaul connection to Operator networks will be through wired broadband Internet
service existing in the home such as DSL, cable, or fiber optics as available. There are no
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
connections required to the wider cellular network other than through the IP core. This will benefit
Operators by effectively offloading traffic that would otherwise be on the macro-layer directly onto
the internet from the Femtocell; this not only reduces the load on the core network but also lowers
the cost of delivering wireless traffic when compared to the macro network.
Interference: The use of Femtocells in spectrum also currently used by the macro layer may, if not
managed correctly, give rise to issues with interference between cells; macro with Femtocell and in
the instance of close proximity of two or more units, Femtocell with Femtocell. Operators will likely
want to launch Femtocells on the same channel as their macro cell network for capacity reasons.
Handovers: Current macro RF planning techniques are inappropriate for Femtocells. Not least
because of the sheer potential numbers of Femtocells and managing the neighbor lists that would
be necessary. Also the potential to “ping-pong” between layers, especially as an end-user moves
around the home and enters into areas where the signal strength from the macro-cell is greater
than that of the Femtocell, must be considered very carefully to ensure that the networks provide
the best overall coverage without issue.
Security: Given the requirements for low-cost and easy installation, the use of the broadband
internet as the network interface becomes very easy to understand. However this raises security
risks in that broadband internet has open access. There are various approaches to address this issue
including the embedding of the Iub interface within the IP signaling itself while network security is
managed by the IP security (IPSec) protocol.
Operator controlled: Femtocells operate in licensed spectrum and as such Operators must ensure
that they comply with the conditions of that license and any other controls enforced by a regulator.
To these ends Femtocells feature client software that enables remote configuration and monitoring
via an Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P) system in a similar
manner to that used by the macro network.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Service Assurance: Remote Management to enable an operator to provide the end-user quality of
service at the edge of the network. [1]
Within the United States, the most significant deployments up to December 2010 are
by Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless. In January 2009 Verizon rolled out its Wireless Network
Extender. In late March 2010, AT&T announced nationwide roll-out of its 3G MicroCell, which
commenced in April. The equipment is made by Cisco Systems and was the first 3G Femtocell in US,
supporting both voice and data HSPA. Verizon upgraded to 3G CDMA Femtocells during 2010, with
capacity for more concurrent calls and much higher data rates.
In Asia, several service providers have rolled out Femtocell networks. In Japan, Softbank launched
its residential 3G Femtocell service in January 2009 with devices provided by Ubiquisys. In the same
year the operator launched a project to deploy Femtocells to deliver outdoor services in rural
environments where existing coverage is limited. In May 2010, SoftBank Mobile launched the first
free Femtocell offer, providing open access Femtocells free of charge to its residential and business
customers. In Singapore, Starhub rolled out its first nation-wide commercial 3G Femtocell services
with devices provided by Huawei Technologies, though the uptake is low. In 2009, China Unicom
announced its own Femtocell network. NTT DoCoMo in Japan launched their Femtocell service on
the 10th November 2009. [3]
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Service Parity: Femtocells support the same voice and broadband data services that mobile users
are currently receiving on the Macrocell network. This includes circuit-switched services such as
text messaging and various voice features.
Call Continuity: Femtocell networks are well-designed with the Macrocell network so that calls
originating on either Macrocell or Femtocell networks can carry on when the user moves into or out
of Femtocell coverage. Femtocell network architecture requirements include the necessary
connectivity between the Femtocell and Macrocell networks to support such call continuity.
Security: Femtocells use the same over-the-air security mechanisms that are used in Macrocell
radio networks. But extra security capabilities need to be supported to guard against threats that
originate from the Internet or through tampering with the Femtocell itself. Femtocell network
architecture provides network access security, and includes subscriber and Femtocell
authentication and authorization procedures to protect against fraud.
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Scalability: Femtocell networks can have millions of access points. However, the Femtocell network
architecture must be scalable to rise into such large networks, whereas at the same time
maintaining reliability and manageability. [4]
Two other elements that are in all Femtocell network architectures are entities that permit
connectivity to the mobile operator core. Depending on the precise architecture used for circuit
switched calls, there can be whether a Femtocell Convergence Server (FCS) or a Femtocell Network
Gateway (FNG).
This is also shown in Figure 2.1. For packet calls, depending on the air-link technology, there can be
either a PDSN or xGSN (GGSN/SGSN) in the core. In many cases, the PDSN / xGSN are the same as
those used for macro networks.
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station and base station controller and connects to the operator network over a secure tunnel
through the Internet. A FAP can be introduced into a home in multiple ways. A separate FAP can be
directly connected to the home router. In some cases, the FAP may also include a built-in router,
which is useful in prioritizing FAP voice traffic over other Internet traffic in the home network. More
highly developed FAP’s include an Analog Terminal Adapter (ATA) to connect a fixed-line phone. In
other cases, FAP’s are full-blown residential gateways with built-in Wi-Fi and a broadband modem
(xDSL, cable). Note, the 3GPP refers to 3G Femtocells as Home Node Bs (HNBs)
Security Gateway: The security gateway is a network node that secures the Internet connection
between Femtocell users and the mobile operator core network. It uses standard Internet security
protocols such as IPSec and IKEv2 to authenticate and authorize Femtocells and provides encryption
support for all signaling and user traffic. The security gateway supports a large number of
Femtocells connecting to the operator’s network. While like to traditional VPN gateways used in
enterprises, Femtocell security gateways are designed for use in carrier networks and meet carrier-
grade requirements for instance scalability, high availability, and network management.
Femtocell Device Management System: The Femtocell management system, also placed in the
operator network, plays a significant role in the activation and operational management of
Femtocells using industry standards such as TR-069. The management system is probably the most
critical node in ensuring the scalability of a Femtocell network to millions of devices. To ensure low-
cost deployment and easy setup for subscribers, the activation and provisioning of the Femtocell
must be plug-and-play with no on-site assistance (sometimes called a “truck roll”) required from the
mobile operator. Different standards bodies state the use of the TR-069 family of standards as the
base device management framework for Femtocells. This protocol is widely used in DSL modem and
residential gateway deployments, and uses a proven web-based architecture that can scale to
support millions of devices.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
FCS or FNG: The FCS or FNG enables Femtocells to connect to the operator core network. This is
important for the operation of Femtocells as this is what allows Femtocells to communicate with
the core elements in the operator’s networks and allow seamless service for the mobile. For
example, basic call setup requires communicating with the MSC and PSTN of the operator core. The
FCS or FNG allows this to happen. As will be shown below, depending on the specific architectural
model used to support Circuit-Switched Services the FCS /FNG can be used.
PDSN /xGSN: The PDSN / xGSN enable Femtocell users to receive packet data services over the
mobile operator’s core. In most cases, these will be the same as those used by the mobile
operator’s macro network.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Femtocells connect to a mobile operator core network to deliver both circuit-switched and packet
data services. Broadly speaking, there are two distinct architectural models for supporting circuit-
switched services in Femtocells. In the SIP/IMS model, Femtocells connect into an overlay SIP/IMS
core network. In the alternate so-called legacy model, Femtocells connect directly into the mobile
operator’s legacy core network (MSC). In the remainder of this section, we will review these models
in detail. [5]
Figure 2.3: Femtocell Network Architectures for Supporting Voice (Circuit Switched Services) [4]
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in turn has a signalling connection to the legacy CDMA core network, whose interfaces are defined
in the TIA IS-41 standard. The SIP/IMS network is used for the call control and media routing while
the legacy core network is used to retrieve subscriber data stored on the legacy network and to
support handoffs to/from the Macrocell network, which exclusively uses the legacy core network. [5]
The SIP/IMS core network can be a full-blown IMS network or it can be a basic SIP-based
VoIP network. An IMS core network would have the IMS nodes, such as the Call Signalling Control
Function (CSCF) nodes for call control, Home Subscriber System (HSS) to manage subscriber data,
and Media Gateway (MGW)/Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) nodes to connect to the
Public Telephone Network (PSTN). In a more basic SIP network, the functionality of the CSCF and
MGCF functions may be integrated into a SIP soft switch, and the HSS function may be handled by a
Radius server. FCS is the key component in this architecture. It fits into an IMS core network as an
Application Server (AS) that connects to the CSCF’s using the standard ISC interface. FCS connects to
the legacy core network like an MSC using standard IS-41 network interfaces.
The SIP/IMS model is a forward-looking approach for delivering services over Femtocells. It offers
not only a scalable approach for delivering services, but can also be used to offer converged fixed-
mobile services to both mobile devices and fixed-line phones. In the SIP/IMS model, support of
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
active handoff is done through the FCS. As the FCS essentially acts as a peer MSC in the mobile core
network, the handoff uses the well known inter-MSC active handoff mechanisms using existing core
network interfaces, as defined in IS-41. When a user moves from Femtocell coverage to macro
network coverage, the Femtocell sends and receives messages that correspond to the handoff
request messages sent in the macro network in handoff scenarios. [5]
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Although the legacy network model is currently not supported in CDMA Femtocell standards, it is
supported by CDMA Femtocell. As shown in Figure 2.6, in this architecture the FNG uses the 3GPP2
standard A1p/A2p interfaces to connect to the MSC in the legacy network and a SIP-based interface
to connect Femtocells to the FNG. Using the SIP-based interface between the Femtocell and the
FNG makes the FNG more scalable and also creates a natural migration path from the legacy model
to the SIP/IMS model.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
SGSN/GGSN and the Femtocell makes the data traffic from these devices appear as if it is coming
from an RNC.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
From the 3GPP2, the following radio frequency requirement was proposed for Femto cell.
Femto cell systems include mechanisms to control and minimize interference with the
Macrocellular system. Also, Femto cell systems include mechanisms to control and minimize
interference between femto cell devices.
Femto cell systems are capable of supporting one or more of the various types cdma2000
air interfaces (1x and EV-DO). Femto cell systems shall support one or more of the band classes
defined for cdma2000 radio technologies. UMTS Femtocell provide the full capacity of the UMTS
carrier in a limited cell size and handles users while delivering full HSDPA, HSUPA and HSPA+
performance. Femto cell systems supports existing terminal devices that employ any radio interface
supported by the femto cell.
Femto cell systems are capable of operating and co-existing with the Macrocellular system
in the same channel. They are also capable of operating and co-existing with the Macrocellular
system when the Macrocellular system is operating in different channels or bands than the femto
cell system. A Femto BS shall support a single carrier frequency in a licensed band for the supported
air interface specification(s).[7]
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
While Femtocells can give major advantages in terms of coverage improvements for a
comparatively low cost, these benefits could be negated if the overall performance of the network
was reduced. To operate such an underlay network reliably, Femtocells need to prevent and
strongly mitigate any form of interference with Macrocells and provide seamless roaming to users
as they move in and out of their coverage. As a result an amount of work has to be done to ensure
that Femtocell interference issues do not arise and prevent their widespread deployment. There are
a number of methods that have been developed to ensure the easy minimization of interference so
[8]
that Femtocells can be installed by users without the need to worry about any technical issues.
Femtocells implement various layers of interference management to optimize user experience
across both Femtocell and Macrocell networks.
Scenario C shares all available radio channels between the Macrocell and Femtocell networks. This
has the pros of adding more freedom to manage interference between Femtocells, mostly in dense
urban deployments, but also requires the highest degree of interference management to ensure
minimal impact on the macro network from co-channel Femtocells.
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Scenario B represents a compromise between scenario A and C in which some radio channels are
shared between Macrocell and Femtocell networks and other radio channels are observed for
Macrocell network only. In this scenario, the Macrocell can redirect the mobile devices it is serving
on a shared radio channel to a dedicated Macrocell radio channel as they approach a Femtocell.
Since mobile operators do not have dedicated radio channels to Femtocells in many of their
markets. Therefore, Femtocells need to be designed with advanced interference mitigation
techniques that allow reliable operation when Femtocells and Macrocells networks share the same
radio channels as in scenario C. [6]
Figure 3.1: Deployment Scenarios for Sharing Radio Channels between Macrocells and Femtocells Networks
Downlink Interference Mitigation: A Femtocell must set its DL transmission power high enough to
overcome the interfering Macrocell signal within the Femtocells target coverage area. But the
Femtocell cannot arbitrarily increase its transmission power, as this would generate interference to
mobile devices nearby that are operating on the same radio channel but are being served by a
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Macrocell base station or another Femtocell. To deal with this situation Femtocells set their
transmission power adaptively. They measure the strength of the signals received from nearby
Macrocells and other Femtocells and set the DL transmission power level just high enough to
achieve acceptable SNR inside the target coverage area. A Femtocell transmitting at too high a
power level creates interference to a nearby mobile device that is being served on the same radio
channel by a far away Macrocell. This can create a “dead zone” where even basic voice
communication with the Macrocell base station may become impossible. Femtocells avoid this
scenario by either pushing these mobile devices away to another radio channel on the Macrocell
network while they are still in standby mode or by allowing them to park on the Femtocell in
standby mode, and handing them out to a different radio channel on the Macrocell network
whenever they turn active for a voice or data call. This way all Macrocell calls in the close vicinity of
the Femtocell always take place on a different radio channel and thus avoid any interference from
the Femtocell. [6]
Uplink Interference Mitigation: Macrocell base stations maintain system stability on the UL by
controlling the total received UL power. The transmission power of mobile devices that are being
served by the Macrocell base station are controlled in such a way that the rise in total received
power over the equivalent thermal noise level is maintained at or below a pre-determined
threshold. This threshold known as the Rise-Over-Thermal (RoT) is set between 5 and 10 dB. Power
control ensures the strength of signals being received from mobile devices that are at different
distances from the base station is equal, and thereby maintains system stability. Soft handoff
procedures also allow multiple base stations to control the transmission power of the mobile device
located at a cell boundary. Mobile devices that are being served by Macrocells will set their
transmission power in a way that is oblivious to the presence of Femtocells. Because the distance
between a mobile device and a Macrocell is typically larger than that between the device and a
nearby Femtocell, the UL signal received by the Femtocell from such a device can be very high,
raising the interference level up to 30 or 40 dB above levels typically seen in Macrocell base station
receivers. The Femtocell receiver hardware is designed to handle high levels of interference from
nearby mobile devices, without suffering from any saturation effects. The Femtocell will inform the
mobile devices it is serving to increase their transmission power to overcome the interference from
nearby mobile devices being served by a Macrocell base station, using a variation of the power
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
control algorithm used in Macrocell base stations. The increase in transmission power poses no
problem for the mobile device being served by the Femtocell because its transmitter is designed for
operation with distant Macrocell base stations. It generally has plenty of power available to reliably
communicate with a nearby Femtocell, even in presence of interference from other nearby mobile
devices transmitting to a Macrocell at a high power. In fact, in the absence of any interference from
other mobile devices, a mobile device being served by a Femtocell uses very little transmission
power relative to what it uses on a Macrocell network, which leads to longer battery life (talk time)
and avoids UL interference to nearby Macrocell base stations. However in the scenario where a
mobile device being served by Femtocell has to raise its transmission power in response to
interference being caused by a mobile device being served by a far away Macrocell base station,
elevated interference levels can occur in the Macrocell base station. As Macrocell base stations are
designed to operate in a power-controlled environment, unplanned interference from such a
mobile device can cause mobile users being served by the Macrocell near the cell edge to
experience lower data throughput and call drops. Femtocells avoid this phenomenon by constantly
evaluating the interference its mobile devices are causing to nearby Macrocell base stations, and
ensure that such interference does not reach levels where they affect Macrocell user experience.
This is done by using measurement reports from mobile devices to evaluate their path loss to the
nearest Macrocell base station, and by limiting their transmission power using power control
algorithms. [6]
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
sending an appropriate “rejection” message, which causes the mobile device to switch to another
radio channel on the Macrocell network. Mobile operators may choose to provide commercial
incentives to Femtocell owners to have them configure their Femtocells in open access mode,
where any mobile device can receive service from the Femtocell. Open access not only makes the
Femtocell experience available to more users, it also avoids many of the interference scenarios
discussed in the previous section. In open access, the Femtocell beacon will redirect all mobile
devices within its coverage area to the Femtocell radio channel. Hybrid access is similar to open
access except here certain mobile devices selected by the Femtocell owner are given preferential
treatment over other mobile devices that can use the Femtocell on a best-effort basis. [6]
In either CDMA or UMTS, the mobile device will switch to a new cell on the same radio
channel based on continuous measurement of pilot signals from neighbouring cells. But mobile
operators use multiple radio channels and switching to a cell on a different radio channel has more
stringent requirements. To increase battery standby time the mobile device scans other radio
channels only when the signal-to-noise ratio of the current cell is lower than a certain threshold. In
UMTS systems, this threshold is determined by a system parameter called SIntersearch. Setting
SIntersearch to a higher value can force all mobile devices to perform inter-frequency searches
under more circumstances, thus increasing their battery drainage. On the other hand, if
SIntersearch is set to a lower value, the inter-frequency scans required to detect the Femtocell may
not be triggered if the signal received from the Macrocell base station is strong and a mobile device
may never switch to the Femtocell. Thus operator must optimize how they set SIntersearch.
CDMA2000 Femtocells solve this problem by including a special transmitter called a beacon, which
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makes the Femtocells presence known on all Macrocell radio channels except the one used by the
Femtocell. The beacon is a special signal that consists essentially of a low-power pilot signal along
with a broadcast signal that forces mobile devices to camp on the Femtocell radio channel. In CDMA
a command is sent to all mobile devices or only to those devices authorized to use the Femtocell.
Since most CDMA2000 devices support both CDMA2000 1x and EV-DO, a mobile device needs to
camp on the Femtocell in both 1x and EV-DO systems simultaneously. CDMA Femtocells implement
a unique beacon solution to allow a device entering Femtocell coverage area to attach and remain
attached to both systems. The overall Femtocell user experience will be best when the beacon
range is somewhat smaller than the service range most of the time and occasionally equal to the
service range, as illustrated in Figure 3.2. [6]
3.4.2 Handover/Handoff
Femtocell handover or handoff techniques need to ensure that seamless coverage is perceived
and call continuity is maintained by the user when moving onto or off a Femtocell. Femtocell
handover is more challenging than normal Macrocell cellular handover because the backhaul
network is different and there is also little possibility of direct communication between the
Femtocell and the Macrocell. Femtocell handover (handoff) to and from Femtocells is obviously an
essential element of the technology. It is essential that users do not see any problems with the
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
handover process; otherwise this would provide a basic distrust of the system and lead to their use
being avoided. [9]
These are the three ways in which Femtocell handover (handoff) occurs:
Hand-in This is where handover occurs from the macro-cell or standard cellular network to
the Femtocell.
Hand-out: This is where a handover occurs from the Femtocell to the Macrocell or
standard cellular network.
Femtocell to Femtocell: There will be situations where handover will occur between one
Femtocell and another close by. This will be commonplace in offices that may have a
number of Femtocells to give continuous coverage within a building.
Hand-out can be supported with relative ease without any form of changes to the existing
Macrocell network or to the mobile devices. This is achieved by making the Femtocell network
behave like a Macrocell network towards the Macrocell mobile switching center, thereby making
the legacy equipment think that it is handling a handoff between two Macrocell networks, except
when the Femtocell and Macrocell networks are sharing a single available radio channel, hand out
is generally performed to a Macrocell radio channel that is different from the Femtocell radio
channel.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Hand-in on the other hand is more difficult because there is no simple mechanism for the
Macrocell network to determine the identity of the target Femtocell from the measurement reports
sent by the mobile device approaching the Femtocell.
In CDMA2000 systems, the measurement report includes the strength of pilot signals seen
by the mobile device and uses the PN offset to identify the target cell. However, target Femtocells
cannot be identified without ambiguity based only on PN offset report because out of the available
512 distinct PN offsets only a small number will be allocated to Femtocells and these are re-used
among them. Thus with possibly hundreds of Femtocells per Macrocell it is not possible to uniquely
identify the handoff target with the PN offset. CDMA Femtocells can solve this problem by
measuring the UL signal of the approaching mobile device. First, using cdma2000 1x signaling
protocols the Base Station Controller (BSC) in the Macrocell network triggers the handoff and
forwards the mobile device’s UL scrambling code information and the target PN offset to the
Femtocell Convergence Server (FCS) via the MSC. Based on this and other available information, the
FCS then requests a subset of the Femtocells it is serving to listen for the mobile device based on
the UL scrambling code. All Femtocells with the same target PN offset then report back the mobile
device’s UL signal quality together with the Femtocells DL pilot transmission power level. Based on
the reports from the various Femtocells, the FCS determines the correct target Femtocell and
signals the Macrocell BSC to order the mobile device to handoff to the Femtocell. The same
Femtocell identification issue occurs in UMTS Femtocells. A scalable hand-in solution requires
changes to existing standards, thus can work with only future devices that will be compliant with
these new standards. A proposed 3GPP standard solution is based on “autonomous gaps” which
allows the mobile device in a call to break from the call for a sufficiently long period of time to allow
it to search for a Femtocell on a different radio channel and decode its broadcast channel. Based on
the cell identity and the measurements, the Macrocell network can trigger a hand-in to the
Femtocell. [6]
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
It is therefore essential, that from the first deployment phase for Femtocells, to the maintenance
phases, operators keep sufficient security measures in place and upgrade them to counter any new
techniques that are developed.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
that are used by other cellular base stations and phones. Power levels are about the same as the
power levels used by ordinary wireless access points for Wi-Fi. Phones using the Femtocell will have
low level power likely to be within easy radio-range, its power levels will be reduced to only the
required level needed to give reliable communications. In this way the overall level of radio signal
may be reduced.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Accuracy levels are defined in many standards for different types of cell. These tend to vary
according to the type of cell which the base station is serving.
It would be possible to utilize a very high stability standard to produce the required level of
accuracy and hence Femtocell synchronization. However cost can be an issue and therefore other
methods of obtaining the required level of Femtocell synchronization and frequency accuracy may
be more effective.
Crystal oscillators are generally at the heart of any clock system used to provide a timing and
frequency reference. Different types of crystal oscillator may be used, but these have cost
implications.
NB: TCXO = Temperature compensated crystal oscillator, OCXO = Oven controlled crystal oscillator.
It can be seen that the accuracy is broadly reflected in the cost. As OCXOs can be particularly
expensive, and often relatively large, other ways are normally sought of gaining he required level of
stability. As the cost of both the OCXO and hybrid solutions are normally too high for the maximum
manufacturing costs that are viable for Femtocell production, and therefore a TCXO combined with
another form of external Femtocell synchronization. [10]
There are a number of ways in which Femtocell synchronization can be achieved. There are several
sources of time information that can be used. The major time synchronization sources that are used
are:
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Internet timing for Femtocell synchronization: Using this method, the Femtocell access point can
use the backhaul connection to access the clock of the clock on the network of the operator. There
are problems with this method because this form of Femtocell synchronization can suffer delays
resulting from the varying delays introduced by the Internet.
The use of the Internet connection to provide timing suffers from two main
disadvantages:
Variable delays of packets and timing information which reduces the Femtocell
synchronization. This becomes more pronounced the further the Femtocell is located
from the clock.
Bandwidth required can be significant, especially if the precision is low because the
synchronization process has to be performed on a more regular basis.
GPS timing for Femtocell synchronization: GPS is now widely used, not only for navigation but
also as a very accurate source of timing. GPS receivers for timing applications are widespread and
cheap to include in Femtocells. However GPS has the disadvantage that when used within buildings
the signal suffers significant levels of attenuation and may often not operate.
To overcome the Femtocell could be located by a window, or it may be possible to install and
external antenna, but this makes installation more complicated and expensive.
TV transmitters for Femtocell synchronization: In many countries are able to receive terrestrial
television transmissions at good strength. Also as they are broadcast at frequencies below 1GHz,
they are able to penetrate buildings well. Accordingly many of these transmissions can be used to
provide a reference source for the Femtocell synchronization.
Television receivers suitable for providing Femtocell synchronization can be built into Femtocells
quite cheaply, and in fact cost less than a GPS receiver. As a result they can represent a very cost
effective solution. [12]
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
5 APPLICATION OF FEMTOCELL
Femtocells are strategically located in the home and they are the only devices that are part
of both the home network and the operator’s network. As such, they can play a crucial role in the
home by bridging mobile and home devices and enabling a new class of tightly-converged services.
In this respect, Femtocells have the potential to become game-changing devices. And they
can change the big game, namely that of the connected digital home. In fact, in the fierce battle to
determine which device will be the center of the digital living room of tomorrow, Femtocells has
several advantages over other contenders such as the PC, the set-top box, the router/home
gateway, and the media gateway.
Specifically, Femtocells have seven characteristics that set them apart from all other devices
in the home. Because of these characteristics, Femtocells have the potential of becoming the center
of the digital home user experience. By providing the most natural bridge between mobile and
wired worlds both at home and away, Femtocells can deliver user experiences in the home that are
intrinsically and seamlessly mobile. [13]
The new class of femtozone services takes advantage of these unique enablers provided by the
Femtocell. In addition to creating new services, it is possible to smoothly integrate the Femtocell
with existing mobile and fixed-line service platforms, so that its presence in the home can be used
to also enhance existing services. Different service can be provide at home mobile by Femtocell
Family Alert Service: When a family member arrives home or leaves, the Femtocell
automatically sends an SMS message. For example, a parent at work can be
notified that their child has arrived home from school.
Virtual Home Number: A home phone number that rings on all the handsets at
home when a call comes in to that number.
Media Synchronization: Ability to synchronize music tracks and video clips
automatically between a mobile handset and a home PC.
Photo Upload: Ability to upload photos automatically from the handset to a home
PC when handset arrives home and display the photos to a digital picture frame.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Emergency Services Support One of the most important requirements for a Femtocell is the
support for emergency calling services, which is known in North America as e911. When the
mobile user makes an emergency call, an emergency service is dispatched to user’s current
location as soon as possible. Whether the call is made from a mobile handset or a fixed-line
phone, the call is directed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that handles the
geographic region in which the call was initiated. For a fixed-line call, in most cases, the
street address of the fixed-line phone is known, so an emergency dispatch (e.g. police) is
sent immediately to that address. When a call originates from a mobile phone, the location
of the user is in most cases less certain. In North America, it has become mandatory for
mobile phones to support location identification for e911 calls, so they can report the user’s
location to the PSAP with a high degree of accuracy. Other countries are adopting similar
34
Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
requirements for emergency calling from mobile devices. To support emergency services,
Femtocells provide critical information to the mobile operator core network, such as the
location of the caller to identify the nearest PSAP and a call back number to call the user in
case of a disconnection. Femtocells support emergency services even for those users who
are not authorized to use the Femtocell. [4]
This modeling does not presume that Femtocells are a direct replacement for Macrocells. In fact, as
more Femtocells are added, the Macrocell must remain on, radiating power, to support users that
cannot be connected to a Femtocell (such as those that a driving).
A similar curve, though less steep, exists for a Macrocell with 60 users (3.4 watts per user
when provided by macro only). It becomes more energy efficient (2.8 watts) when there are
upwards of 40% of users with Femtocells.
In really dense areas, such as 240 users per macro cell, the energy efficiency
can increase when more Femtocells are used. A small number of Femtocells results in drop in
energy consumption, while a large proportion of Femtocells see a small rise in total energy
consumption. [15]
35
Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
36
Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
Secure entry: The same technology would also be ideal for providing secure authentication to
access buildings or events. For instance, consider a theatre company with a number of venues.
Instead the audience buying tickets online, printing them off, and staff at the theatre having
checking each ticket by hand, a handset could be used to authenticate attendees.
A Femtocell at the entrance door or turnstile would request the information via the web-
based APIs to identify the mobile number. It matches this information with its own database of
ticket purchases (and the mobile number associated with the purchase) and allows the gate to
open. As such, it is not being used for payment; it is being used for secure access. No printing of
tickets, no barcode scanners and what’s more one will know who comes into the building because it
will recorded the time of when they enter and their mobile number. That will allow the event
promoters to send them an exclusive invitation to a VIP room or to meet the stars of the show.
This same authentication process could provide secure entry into buildings or campuses. And if
anyone wants a second level of authentication for restricted areas, a small app on the handset
could match the PIN or, in future, a biometric application.
Alternatively, a Femtocell payment pad could be built into a parking meter. Rather than the
cumbersome SMS payments or calling an IVR and having to key in your credit card, femto payment
would the ultimate in convenience, even better than carrying around a bag of loose change. [17]
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
6 CONCLUSION
Femtocells are now an integral part of the development strategy for cellular
telecommunications operators. Not only do Femtocells provide additional advantages for users in
terms of improved performance within the home, or business office, but they also provide the
possibility for additional services and the promise of lower charges. They also offer the change of
convergence where a single phone can be used instead of the landline as well as for roaming. For
operators they provide a cost effective manner in which they can improve their coverage and gain
extra revenue by the provision of additional services. Accordingly the use of Femtocells will become
a mainstay in the cellular telecommunications roadmap for the future.
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
7 REFERENCES
[1] Femto Forum, “About Femtocells: what is Femtocell,” Femto Forum, 2010. [Online]. Available:
http://www.femtoforum.org/femto/aboutFemtocells.php [Accessed: Mar 20, 2011].
[2] Ian Poole, “Femtocell Tutorial Basics” Jan 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.radio-
electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/Femtocells/femto-cells-tutorial-basics.php [Accessed: Mar
20, 2011].
[3] Geralds, “Femtocell”, Wikipedia.com, last para, Mar 17, 2011. [Online]. Available:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femtocell [Accessed: Mar 22, 2011].
[4] Woojune Kim, “Femtocell Network Architecture,” Airvana Corp., Chelmsford, MA, USA, May
2010. [Online]. Available:http://www.airvana.com/technology/Femtocell-network-architecture
[5] Ian Poole, “Femtocell Network Architecture” Jan 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.radio-
electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/Femtocells/femto-cells-network-architecture.php
[Accessed: Mar 21, 2011].
[6] Pierre Humblet and Andy Richardson, “Femtocell Radio Technology,” Airvana Corp., Chelmsford,
MA, USA, May 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.airvana.com/technology/Femtocell-radio-
technology
[7] 3rd Generation Partnership Project, “Pico- and Femto cell System Requirements,” 3GGP, 2010.
3GPP2 S10-20070913-002r1 [Accessed: Mar 19, 2011].
[8] Ian Poole, “Femtocell Interference” Jan 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.radio-
electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/Femtocells/femto-cells-interference.php [Accessed: Mar
19, 2011].
[9] Ian Poole, “Femtocell Handover/handoff” Jan 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.radio-
electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/Femtocells/femto-cells-handover-handoff.php [Accessed:
Mar 21, 2011].
[10] Ian Poole, “Femtocell Security” Jan 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.radio-
electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/Femtocells/femto-cells-security.php [Accessed: Mar 19,
2011].
[11] Ian Poole, “Femtocell Public Health Issues” Jan 2010. [Online]. http://www.radio-
electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/Femtocells/femto-cells-health-issues.php [Accessed: Mar
20, 2011].
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Femtocell in 3G (CDMA2000 and UMTS)
[12] Ian Poole, “Femtocell Synchronization and Spectrum Accuracy” Jan 2010. [Online]. Available:
http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/Femtocells/femto-cells-synchronization-
synchronisation.php [Accessed: Mar 19, 2011].
[13] Pierre Humblet, “Femtocell Radio Technology,” Airvana Corp., Chelmsford, MA, USA, May
2010. [Online]. http://www.airvana.com/technology/femtozone-applications/
[14] www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/binary/pdf/.../rd/.../vol11_4_019en.pdf
[15] Alcatel-lucent, “Femtocells combat climate change – and reduce the bottom line,” Feb, 2011.
[Online]. Available: http://www.wilson-street.com/2011/02/Femtocells-combat-climate-
change-%E2%80%93-and-reduce-the-bottom-line/
[16] Alcatel-lucent, “How small cells can be good citizens with self organisation,” Feb, 2011.
http://www.wilson-street.com/2010/02/how-small-cells-can-be-good-citizens-with-self-
organisation/
[17] Alcatel-lucent, “Who needs NFC when femtos can do cashless payments?,” Feb, 2011.
http://www.wilson-street.com/2011/02/who-needs-nfc-when-femtos-can-do-cashless-
payments/
40