A femtocell is a miniature cellular access point deployed in homes or small offices to resolve poor indoor signal reception. It connects to the mobile operator's core network via the user's broadband internet connection, effectively routing voice calls and mobile data over the web. While it operates on standard licensed spectrum, its transmit power is strictly limited to cover only a few rooms without interfering with the macro network outside.
The customer complained about dropping calls in their basement, so we shipped them a femtocell to plug into their router.
Do not mix it up with
- Picocell: A femtocell is typically consumer-grade and covers a single home, while a picocell is enterprise-grade and covers larger indoor spaces like malls or offices.
Related terms
Picocell
A small cellular base station designed to provide localized coverage within a building or dense area.
Cell
The geographic area covered by a single base station in a mobile network.
Base station subsystem
The section of a cellular network that manages radio links between mobile devices and the core network.
Broadband
High-speed data transmission utilizing a wide range of frequencies to carry multiple signals simultaneously.