BANGALORE, INDIA: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. ("Huawei"), a player in providing next generation telecommunications network solutions worldwide, announced that it has helped StarHub, a telecom operator in Singapore, to deploy the world's first commercial 3G femtocell network, 'Home Zone'.

Huawei had now deployed a total of 21 pre-commercial and trial femtocell networks across the world – more than any other company in the industry.

3G femtocell is a portable wireless access device that connects 3G mobile handsets directly to a standard broadband DSL or cable service to provide mobile voice and data coverage in the home and office environment. Femtocells are particularly useful for areas where broadband access would otherwise be limited or unavailable.

Huawei's femtocell solution enables end-users to enjoy high-speed wireless data services indoors such as streaming video, IPTV, video conferencing and mobile broadband. Femtocells are also important for operators to implement a full-service operation strategy in this new era of network convergence.

Wan Biao, executive deputy president, Huawei Wireless Product Line, said: "StarHub's launch of 'Home Zone' is a significant milestone for the commercial development of the femtocell industry. As the earliest member of Femto Forum, Huawei has been committed to femtocell research and development since 2005 and our focus now is to play an active role in the commercial deployment of this important technology worldwide in partnership with the industry. We are proud to have already played a key role in developing the world's first commercial 3G femtocell network."