28 August 2008

Fixed-Mobile Convergence On The Verge Of Interesting Times

The fixed-mobile convergence market (FMC) is on the verge of interesting times, according to a report.

The first real competitive solution that could rival Wi-Fi-based products has arrived form of Sprint’s nationwide (US) femtocell-based AIRAVE solution. Market research company ABI Research forecasts a total of 103 million access points of both types to be in service by 2013.

“We expect cellular-based femtocells to have taken over the baton from UMA- and SiP-based Wi-Fi solutions by 2013, seizing 62% of the market,” explained ABI Research Vice president and research director Stuart Carlaw.

“Although UMA-based Wi-Fi solutions have seen early gains in greenfield markets, these solutions have not proliferated much outside their current carrier footprints. This can be attributed partly to the carriers’ desire to assess femtocell developments, but also to lingering concerns regarding the concept of Wi-Fi based fixed-mobile converge,” added Carlaw.

UMA-based Wi-Fi dual-mode solutions have seen significant penetration in both Europe and North America via market debuts from T-Mobile in the US (T-Mobile @Home) and Orange (unik) in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.