On the effects of resource sharing on mobile network deployment decisions

Abstract

The explosion of data demand, market saturation, increasing competition and consiquent rapid price drops in mobile communications contributed to lower profit margins for mobile network operators, forcing them to seek ways to decrease network costs. In this context, network resource sharing emerged as one of the most appealing strategies to substantially and sustainably decrease network costs. Different forms of network sharing have been proposed and standardized in the course of the years, from the simple sharing of antenna towers and masts to the sharing of all mobile network operators' assets. However, the extent to which these options can he exploited in practice is case specific and it ultimately depends on a number of technical, financial, marketing, and regulatory aspects. This thesis analyzes how network sharing impacts different aspects of mobile cellular networks, with a specific focus on network planning decisions