Alcatel-Lucent and Sagem are collaborating on the commercial development of a femto cell base station platform that enables mobile operators to provide consumers and enterprises with third-generation (3G) UMTS/HSPA network coverage in their homes or business locations.

Based on Alcatel-Lucent’s "flat IP (Internet Protocol)" architecture, the UMTS/HSPA BSR Femto flattens the mobile network by integrating and collapsing the UMTS/HSPA radio access network elements, including the base station and radio network controller (RNC), into a single, small unit about the size of a TV set-top box. 

Under the collaboration agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will provide its flat IP and UMTS/HSPA expertise, networking equipment and software and end-to-end integration and support for the development of the BSR Femto. Sagem Communications will lend its enhanced home networking capabilities and expertise in developing IP, VoIP and DSL solutions for the mass market.

The BSR Femto uses a DSL connection in a home or office building to backhaul voice and data traffic onto an operator’s existing UMTS/HSPA network, enabling operators to offload traffic from the macro-network.  It supports circuit-switched voice and data applications, packet-switched data applications, HSPA and IP-Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based networks.  It also works with all 3GPP-compliant UMTS/HSPA handsets.