BARCELONA, SPAIN: Vodafone announced a trial of 3G signal repeaters in several markets, after the successful completion of initial trials in Egypt. The technology would provide a boost to in-building wireless coverage, much like femtocells.

Steven Hartley, senior analyst, Ovum, said: "This doesn’t look like the end of femtocells, even though there haven’t been many announcements in this space this week. Vodafone has stressed that this is not a sign that it is giving up on femtocells. It sees a different usage case for the repeaters. It has not yet revealed further details, but, for example, they could be used in emerging markets where poor fixed infrastructure prevents femtocell backhaul."

"However, repeaters also offer a fixed mobile substitution opportunity in more mature markets and could serve customers happy to cut their fixed line. Even if Vodafone doesn’t eventually use them in this way, there is certainly potential for other mobile operators to take this approach. For example, 3 Ireland recently announced that repeaters would be part of its winning bid for the Irish government’s National Broadband Scheme for rural areas," Hartley added.