The Future of LTE: The Femtocells perspective

Abstract

The Femtocell is one of the constituents of the LTE-Advanced technology components. It is categorized under the heterogeneous network's small cell concepts. In order to meet one of the most essential desires of mobile network - better coverage and enhanced system capacity, femtocell has offered and will offer most definitely a comprehensive solution to the service providers and subscribers alike. A detail presentation of the past, the present and the future of the femtocell technology has been studied and considered from the perspective of the LTE straight to LTE-Advanced; and tailored to the variants existence of the femto-cellular architecture. The much benefits of the femtocells does leave some points of thought for challenges in the existing deployments; to the users', a concern for privacy and confidentiality; and to the operators, most importantly, cost reduction, better coverage and security. That did not leave out the quest to have improved system deployment by considering issues like Interferences, Mobility and Handover, Backhauling, Self-Organizing Networks, Synchronization and so on. The aim of this thesis is to examine in a top-down approach the femtocells as an important component of the developing LTE-Advanced Technology, with essential projection into the future of the femto-cellular technology and what the future holds for its deployment for operators. To loathe it or to like it! The global success of the femtocells will determine its future at best