Sensors, Vol. 19, Pages 3550: Collaborative Resource Management for Negotiable Multi-Operator Small Cell Networks

Sensors, Vol. 19, Pages 3550: Collaborative Resource Management for Negotiable Multi-Operator Small Cell Networks
Sensors doi: 10.3390/s19163550
Authors:
Shashi Shah
Somsak Kittipiyakul
Yuto Lim
Yasuo Tan

The ubiquitous coverage/connectivity requirement of wireless cellular networks has shifted mobile network operators’ (MNOs) interest toward dense deployment of small cells with coverage areas that are much smaller as compared to macrocell base stations (MBSs). Multi-operator small cells could provide virtualization of network resources (infrastructure and spectrum) and enable its efficient utilization, i.e., uninterrupted coverage and connectivity to subscribers, and an opportunity to avoid under-utilization of the network resources. However, a MNO with exclusive ownership to network resources would have little incentive to utilize its precious resources to serve users of other MNOs, since MNOs differentiate among others based on their ownership of the licensed spectrum. Thus, considering network resources scarcity and under-utilization, this paper proposes a mechanism for multi-operator small cells collaboration through negotiation that establishes a mutual agreement acceptable to all involved parties, i.e., a win–win situation for the collaborating MNOs. It enables subscribers of a MNO to utilize other MNOs’ network resources, and allows MNOs to offer small cells “as a service” to users wit...

Source: Sensors - August 13, 2019 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Shashi Shah Somsak Kittipiyakul Yuto Lim Yasuo Tan Tags: Article Source Type: research