ip.access Introduces OysterCatcher

Cambridge, U.K based ip.access has launched a new diagnostic solution called OysterCatcher, saying that it enables mobile operators to optimize radio performance in large scale deployments of ip.access femtocells.

Simon Brown, CEO at ip.access said that it’s important to remember that femtocell network performance is constantly evolving. Giving an example, he said that upgrades to handset firmware or changes to the macro network can all affect femtocell performance.

This means that the job of diagnosing and improving the performance of the femto layer in the network is a continuous one, Brown said.

OysterCatcher fine-tunes femtocell radio configurations. Company officials said that this complements the femtocell’s ability to adapt automatically to its local radio environment, as well as minimize interference with the surrounding macro network.

For individual femtocells, OysterCatcher finds and diagnoses radio issues, particularly in challenging radio environments where automated techniques alone are insufficient to deliver optimal performance, said company officials.

This newest offering from ip.access features probe software in the femtocell Access Point (News - Alert) (AP) and server-side diagnostic tools. Company officials said that probe software captures and uploads only relevant diagnostic data from individual APs to a server-side database. This provides analytical tools for radio experts, enabling them to diagnose and fix performance issues.

Moreover, OysterCatcher also provides key data that enhances the algorithms used by the AP to manage radio resources and optimize performance automatically, aiding the development of true Self Organising and adaptive networks of femtocells.

ip.access is a manufacturer of picocell and femtocell infrastructure solutions for GSM, GPRS, EDGE and 3G. These solutions bring IP and cellular technologies together to drive down costs and increase coverage and capacity of mobile networks.

Earlier this year in January, the company announced a new addition to its nano3G range of Access Points, which provide in-building 3G coverage using femto technology.