In a mobile phone dead spot? Need a better signal? Now you can get a home mobile phone signal booster. Information on Femtocells, your own mobile phone base station.
There’s nothing worse than not being able to get a decent mobile phone signal at home. Perhaps you live in a mobile phone blackspot, you’re in a basement, in a valley, or you’re in a built-up area suffering from network congestion.
Well, there’s finally an answer – the Femtocell.
What’s a Femtocell?
Yes, we agree – an odd and unhelpful name. A Femtocell is essentially a home mobile phone base station. Pictured here is Vidafone’s Femtocell, which they’ve called SureSignal:
It uses your home Broadband connection to connect to your mobile phone provider, and routes incoming, outgoing and data calls over the Internet.
Are they available in the UK?
Yes, Vodafone is the first mobile phone network operator in the UK to offer Femtocells to users that are in a reception blackspot. Their product is the Vodafone Sure Signal.
Vodafone Sure Signal?
This product originally launched in the UK as the "Vodafone Access Gateway" in the middle of 2009, but has now been rebranded as the Sure Signal" – it’s apparently the first of its kind in Europe.
The Vodafone Sure Signal is easy to install – just plug it into your home broadband line (you must be able to get 1Mbps download speed or better).
The Sure Signal will give you reliable 3G connectivity using your Internet connection, meaning you’ll be able to make and receive voice calls, as well as use your phone for 3G data services.
The original Vodafone SureSignal Box
At the moment, only Vodafone is offering a home Femtocell service, but no doubt other networks will be bringing out their own products in the near future.
For information on the Vodafone Sure Signal, go to www.vodafone.co.uk/suresignal
Vodafone Sure Signal Availability:
Available online now from www.vodafone.co.uk/suresignal |
Vodafone Sure Signal – Photo from Vodafone marketing material
Femtocell FAQ:
- No questions yet
Got a question? Get in touch
Useful links:
- Vodafone Homepage – The official Voda page
- Mobile FAQ – Answers to common mobile phone questions
- Mobile Internet – Help and advice on getting high-speed net access on your phone or laptop
