Talking Telecoms: Codgertations week-ending 2nd July 2010

Thanks for a great Codgertations session! The article about Softbank giving away Femtocells surely makes perfect sense – and not only in Japan. It makes sense wherever operators are experiencing Data Tsunami effects where their creaking 3G networks are struggling with the copious quantities of data generated by smartphones (most North American and Western European operators for a start). Pushing out these “shared Femtocells” in target areas relieves congestion, improves end user experience and at a reasonable cost (VF UK recently were selling Femtos for £40 each - inc discount). I think Softbank are there earlier than other operators due to their extreme data usage figures (see your TTV article earlier in May about Softbank becoming the first telco in the world to make more revenues from data than voice).

Chris Goswami