ip.access launches plug and play for nanoGSM picocell

USA: ip.access, the leading developer of 2G and 3G in-building wireless solutions, has significantly enhanced the capabilities of the nanoGSM product range with a new system release 4.1 that supports “plug and play” customer self installation and a range of other features which extend the performance and capabilities of the system.

By enabling enterprise customers to directly install the nanoGSM BTS on their own premises, mobile operators can save up to half the total cost of a picocell deployment. This in turn expands the range of sites and businesses where nanoGSM can be deployed economically.

To support “plug and play” installation, the nanoGSM system includes automated BTS pre-configuration prior to delivery to the customer, and templated site creation within the BSC. Once the customer has installed the picocell, it connects automatically with the chosen BSC and can then either come directly into service, or send a notification to the network management system for the site to be finalized with automated handover configuration.

The new System Release 4.1 expands and extends the features and performance of the ip.access nanoGSM picocell which, with live deployments in more than 50 operator networks worldwide, is the most popular picocell in the world.

Enhancements include a new capability to hand over a call directly from a nanoGSM BTS to the operator’s 3G network for better network capacity management, and a fully dynamic AMR capability which enables much greater call density per BTS, thereby improving the efficiency and payback of the whole system.

Commenting on the release, ip.access CEO Stephen Mallinson said, “ip.access continues to innovate and expand the capabilities of our nanoGSM system by improving the value it delivers for our many mobile operator customers. It's a misconception that picocells are hard to deploy; in fact installing picocells is easy. Our plug'n'play capabilities make it possible for the installation to be carried out by the end-customer, saving substantial costs.”

ip.access will be showcasing the nanoGSM "plug and play" capability, alongside its other market-leading 3G picocell and femtocell solutions, on Stand 2D62 in Hall 2 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month (Feb 15-18 2010).