Femtocell as a Service

Research Analysis

Femtocell as a Service (FaaS) is a novel way of enabling femtocell services for lower-tier operators that are CapEx constrained, but at the same time would like to avail of the benefits of femtocells. The primary component of the FaaS model consists of a hosted femtocell core network, which is then shared across multiple operators, lowering the barriers to entry for potential lower tier operators that are interested in a femtocell rollout. Most lower-tier operators that are interested in FaaS are looking at using consumer and enterprise femtocells to enhance indoor coverage for its customers, or are more likely to use them as a customer retention tool. FaaS typically doesn't cover solutions like outdoor metrocells which are used in street-level locations that are better addressed by the term known as Small Cell as a Service (SCaaS). SCaaS has a different set of value propositions from FaaS, with this report focusing on the latter.

The market for FaaS is still in its infancy with no real FaaS commercial rollout yet, but there is known to be a high-level of market activity ongoing with as many as four FaaS providers having emerged in the last 12 months, all providing a similar set of value propositions. This report covers the different FaaS providers, and each provider’s enabling partners, all of whom are actively running trials and are pursuing opportunities in their respective markets. The report also provides market forecasts which size the potential market opportunity for FaaS, and looks at the different business models that could be applied. In the end, the report gives strategic recommendations for any vendor or operator, actively involved or actively considering FaaS.

Table of Contents

  • 1. THE FEMTOCELL MARKET NEEDS A NEW CATALYST
    • 1.1. Femtocell as a Service
  • 2. MARKET ASPECTS
    • 2.1. Who Is Best Placed to Be a FaaS Provider?
      • 2.1.1. System Integrators
      • 2.1.2. Mobile Operators
      • 2.1.3. Fixed Line Carriers
      • 2.1.4. Enterprise VARs
    • 2.2. What Aspects of the Femtocell Network Can Be Wholesaled?
      • 2.2.1. Core Network
      • 2.2.2. Network Management System
      • 2.2.3. Backhaul
      • 2.2.4. Access Points
    • 2.3. FaaS in the Enterprise vs. Residential
    • 2.4. FaaS Extended to SCaaS - Public Venues and Street Level
      • 2.4.1. Network Architecture Considerations for FaaS and SCaaS
    • 2.5. FaaS Targeted at Lower Tier Carriers
    • 2.6. Mobility as a Service vs. Femto as a Service
      • 2.6.1. Value Added Services - Location Services, PBX Integration, etc.
  • 3. MARKET FORECASTS
  • 4. BUSINESS MODEL
    • 4.1. Basic Service Model
    • 4.2. Basic Model Plus Fees
    • 4.3. Pay-per-usage Model
    • 4.4. Shared Revenue Model
  • 5. WHOLESALE FEMTO SERVICE PROVIDERS
    • 5.1. Colt Telecom
    • 5.2. Cellcom
    • 5.3. Cloudberry Mobile
    • 5.4. ClearSky Technologies
  • 6. SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

Tables

  1. FaaS versus ScaaS

Charts

  1. Femto Cost per User
  2. Femto CAPEX per User by Size of Deployment
  3. Femto Core Networks as Percentage of Total Cost
  4. FaaS Shipments, World Market, Forecast: 2013 to 2018