In the near future, small cells, which encompass femtocells, picocells and microcells, will cost less than smartphones, thus providing a wide avenue to support mobile data growth, Qualcomm CEO, Paul Jacobs predicted. Jacobs was in Brazil this week to participate in Innovation Qualcomm 2012 in São Paulo.
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During the event, according to syndicate partner Covergência Digital (read original story—in Portuguese), communication minister Paulo Bernado said that Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff, was enthusiastic about small cells and wanted to streamline the local manufacturing process for small cell equipment in the country.
In his presentation, Jacobs also emphasized that hybrid networks that converge 3G/4G with fiber are very close to becoming a reality. According to Jacobs, femtocells are a way to expand coverage, even better than Wi-Fi does, because femtocells use licensed frequency, controlled and managed by operators.
Femtocells are still in the process of receiving regulatory approval from Anatel, Brazil’s telecom regulation agency.
Jacobs noted that small antennas are essential to support mobile data growth. Qualcomm forecasts that 3G phones will increase 180% between 2012 and 2016, from 61 million to 170 million.
At the event, Qualcomm also announced its intentions to obtain 3G and 4G patents for Brazilian manufacturers Gradient, Semp Toshiba, Positive and CCE for their locally manufactured mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.
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