Femtocells, Wi-Fi, or All of the Above?

Though Wi-Fi remains the clear home-based wireless networking technology, mobile providers also are experimenting with UMA and femtocell techniques. But Aruba Networks suggests the ultimate solution might bit of "all of the above," as often happens in the communications business.

Those discussions, likely to become more pronounced as service providers grapple with their fixed-mobile convergence strategies, will require some choices.

Wi-Fi has high production volumes, low prices and good consumer acceptance. Femtocell technologies currently must climb an experience curve to provide reasonable consumer device prices, and sort through some business model issues, Aruba argues.

Wi-Fi already has a significant network effect, so mobile operators must choose whether to leverage Wi-Fi or use femtocells.

Mobile operators have the advantages of macro-cell coverage and phone numbers, so Aruba suggests a hybrid approach using both Wi-Fi and femtocell technologies.

A simple device might combine a Wi-Fi access point and femtocell, or possibly a digital subscriber line connection as well.