Similar to U.S. iPhone network provider AT&T, Softbank Corp., the wireless carrier for Apple Inc.’s iPhone in Japan, often faces criticism that its cellular network can’t keep up with the data-heavy smartphones. Softbank’s solution? Starting in May, the company offered free broadband connections and free 3G femtocell mini base stations, which look similar to wireless routers, to Softbank subscribers. Femtocells are small cellular base stations (in this case 3G) that use a high-speed Internet connection to route calls to the wireless cellular network.

Softbank says the only additional cost to the user is possibly a small increase in electricity costs from the plugged-in femtocell. One femtocell can usually provide improved 3G coverage in an entire house or an area of up to several tens of meters, a Softbank spokesman said. In a densely-populated urban setting like Tokyo, it can improve coverage to even surrounding apartments or houses. Softbank is providing free femtocells for residential use as well as shops and offices.

It’s a brick-by-brick solution that the company is also coupling with a more conventional approach like doubling the number of cell phone towers. However, Softbank says the femtocells are, by comparison, an inexpensive way to help users get better mobile phone reception. AT&T offers a similar service in the U.S. with the AT&T 3G MicroCell, but the user is required to pay $150 up front and also pay for a high-speed Internet connection. 


There are rebates of up to $100 depending on which subscription package the user gets. Vodafone also offers a similar service in the U.K. although users are also asked to pay either a 50 pound up-front fee or a monthly charge.

A Softbank spokesman declined to say how many subscribers have signed up for the offer but noted that demand has been brisk. There is currently a three-month waiting period since users have to apply for a special license from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to own a base station.

The company says it has been testing the femtocells for three to four years in limited areas throughout Japan, but Softbank decided to make it available to all subscribers in May. (Japan Real Time)