| The dramatic increase in wireless data traffic challenges cellular network operators to increase wireless access and system capacity, and to reduce costs of deploying and operating the network infrastructure. In light of the cost and complexity of large scale networks as well as the absence of new spectrum, the paradigm of resource sharing is explored to address these challenges. In this research, we examine three cellular resource sharing approaches: Capacity, Spectrum and Infrastructure Hardware and propose various sharing options in the context of 4G LTE.;We propose a unified coordinated sharing process and architecture by introducing a new network Sharing Entity (SE). The SE enables dynamic creation, modification and termination of resource sharing agreements among operator that can be conditional or restrictive in time, space and other dimensions. We present the required technologies in two cases: (1) Traditional infrastructure for capacity and spectrum sharing options wherein the networks of operators participating in sharing are physically independent infrastructures. (2) Virtualized infrastructure for hardware sharing option wherein a single physical infrastructure virtualizes infrastructures of participating operators.;We model two geographically overlapped LTE cellular networks, operated by two operators, with the proposed sharing architecture and process. We evaluate sharing options based on multiple performance metrics and cost saving estimates under light, moderate and heavy loading scenarios via simulations in collocated and non-collected deployment topologies. |
