UK-based ip.access has announced that that its Oyster 3G femto technology is powering more than 500,000 Access Points deployed live in homes, offices and mobile network hotspots worldwide. Company expects to pass the one million milestone next year. 

Oyster 3G technology from ip.access is used in its femtocell and picocell deployments worldwide. The company numbers more than 60 operator partners for its 3G and 2G small cell technology. Major customers include Cisco, which uses Oyster 3G core technology in its 3G MicroCell solution for AT&T in America.

Making the announcement, Simon Brown, ip.access CEO said: “The 3G small cell market is now really accelerating – consumer femtocells, enterprise and retail picocells, public hot-spots and the move towards metro-zones on 3G and 4G networks are all driving the adoption of small cell technology.

ip.access' Oyster 3G system was among the earliest commercial femtocell solutions when it was first launched in 2007. Today, as the company expects to see deployments more than double in the next 12 to 18 months, Oyster 3G technology is integral to the company’s full product line which includes C-class residential units, S-class Access Points for shops and small offices, and the E-Class enterprise picocells for larger offices and public locations.

Recently, ip.access also announced the OysterCatcher solution, a remote diagnostics and management tool which can fine tune deployed femtocells and picocells to help improve performance and adapt to changing radio environments.