Femtocells: Past, Present, and Future

The topology and architecture of cellular networks are undergoing a major paradigm shift from voice-centric, circuit switched and centrally optimized for coverage towards datacentric, packet switched and organically deployed for capacity. The principle drivers for this shift are intense consumer demand for mobile data that has exceeded even the most aggressive predictions of five years ago; enabling features of the newer wireless standards, in particular LTE; and relentless hardware and software integration that has enabled the entire functionality of a base station to be miniaturized.