UK femtocell developer backed by Google

Ubiquisys Ltd has secured $25m funding from Google and other backers to support the development of its femtocell technology which improves 3G mobile voice calls and Internet access inside buildings.

The femtocell device works by connecting to a resident’s home broadband network to boost 3G coverage and improve reception.

Ubiquisys, which has raised $37m venture capital to date, recently announced a collaboration with Netgear to develop an integrated femtocell home gateway.

The news is also a boost for Bath-based picoChip which supplies the pc202 processor used in Ubiquisys’s ZoneGate femtocell which is currently being trialled by mobile operators in Europe and Japan.

Ubiquisys has previously secured funding from Advent Venture Partners, Accel Partners and Atlas Ventures.