Posted: 05th Dec, 2011 By: MarkJ


Cable operator Virgin Media has
confirmed that it plans to bid for a slice of the UK's 4G superfast Mobile Broadband spectrum (
800MHz and
2.6GHz) in next year's Ofcom auction, some of which could be used to improve indoor mobile coverage and ease data congestion by offering LTE/4G based
femtocell devices to consumers.
Femtocells typically aim to boost indoor mobile voice and data signals by harnessing the power of an existing fixed line broadband ISP connection. Virgin theorises that this could be used to
bring traffic into their core network for delivery and thus ease the burden on Mobile Broadband services.
A Virgin Media spokesperson told ISPreview.co.uk:
"People are increasingly connecting more devices wirelessly to the internet so it is important this doesn't become a capacity bottleneck in future. In order to maximise the value of what is limited spectrum, short range low powered frequencies could be used to ensure localised areas of high demand are satisfied. These frequencies could be shared by companies beyond just the mobile network operators such that consumers will benefit most from greater innovation and a better quality wireless internet experience."
At this stage Virgin is clear that what it proposes will not necessarily turn into a real product, although it could and rival Vodafone already offer something similar. Such devices could have a range of up to 100 metres.