WiMAX Forum Publishes Femtocell Standard

The WiMAX Forum and the Femto Forum have published the first WiMAX femtocell standard. The specifications incorporate a security framework that allows WiMAX networks to support a large number of access points via standard commercial IPSec based security gateways. This phase of specifications also contains simple Self Organizing Network (SON) capabilities to allow automatic configuration of large numbers of femtocells. Future revisions will further enhance the SON capabilities to standardize automatic interference management between femtocells and macro base stations.


The standard also incorporates support for three usage models to support different deployment scenarios such as residential, enterprise and outdoor environments. The 'Open Model' allows the femtocell to operate like a normal WiMAX base station by allowing anyone to use the service; 'Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Closed' allows a limited number of pre-allocated subscribers to use the femtocell. The 'Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) Open' extends the previous model to allow the subscriber to add users themselves.


The groups said the new standard will impact all elements of the WiMAX femtocell network including: the MS (Mobile Station), WFAP (WiMAX Femtocell Access Point), Security Gateway, Femto Gateway, SON Server, AAA Server, WFAP Management Server and other Core Service Network (CSN) functions.
http://www.wimaxforum.orghttp://www.femtoforum.org