AT&T expects femtocell deployment next year

AT&T expects its first metro area deployment of femtocells should come in the second quarter next year. According to John Stankey, president and CEO of AT&T's operations, the operator is validating the technology with customers and employees.

Speaking at a UBS conference in New York this week, Stankey said the product could be combined with a WiFi gateway to develop "a media device that is used for storing content or distributing content. We would like to get to a gateway device that optimizes the home network."

Pricing the device at less than $100 "is very, very do-able in that environment," although it might not be the price the company initially comes to market at, Stankey said. AT&T's goal is for its customer premises equipment (CPE) for the home to total less than $500, he said.

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