Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas
How cost-efficient are potential infrastructure sharing business models for the 5G era (and beyond)? This significant question needs to be addressed if we are to deliver universal affordable broadband in line with Target 9.1 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Although almost two-thirds of the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Computer Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomp.2023.1191853/full |
| _version_ | 1797654695735459840 |
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| author | Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar Edward J. Oughton Edward J. Oughton |
| author_facet | Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar Edward J. Oughton Edward J. Oughton |
| author_sort | Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | How cost-efficient are potential infrastructure sharing business models for the 5G era (and beyond)? This significant question needs to be addressed if we are to deliver universal affordable broadband in line with Target 9.1 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Although almost two-thirds of the global population is now connected, many users still lack access to high-speed and reliable broadband connectivity. Indeed, some of the largest connectivity issues are associated with those living in areas of low economic viability. Consequently, this assessment evaluates the cost implications of different infrastructure sharing business models using a techno-economic assessment framework. The results indicate that a rural 5G neutral host network (NHN) strategy helps to reduce total cost between 10 and 50% compared with other sharing strategies. We also find that, compared to a baseline strategy with No Sharing, the net present value of rural 5G sharing strategies can earn between 30 and 90% more profit. The network upgrades to 5G using various sharing strategies are most sensitive to changes in the average revenue per user, the adoption rate, and the amount of existing site infrastructure. For example, the results from this study show that a 20% variation in demand revenue is estimated to increase the net present value of the sharing strategies by 2–5 times compared to the No Sharing strategy. Similarly, a 10% increase in existing infrastructure lowers the net present value by 8–30%. The infrastructure sharing strategies outlined in this study have the potential to enhance network viability while bridging the digital divide in remote and rural locations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:03:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61be9f3014624da6a43495a7eeba55bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9898 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:03:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Computer Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-61be9f3014624da6a43495a7eeba55bd2023-10-20T06:48:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Computer Science2624-98982023-10-01510.3389/fcomp.2023.11918531191853Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areasShruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar0Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar1Edward J. Oughton2Edward J. Oughton3StrathSDR lab, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United KingdomDepartment of Geography & Geoinformation Science Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United StatesDepartment of Geography & Geoinformation Science Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United StatesEnvironmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomHow cost-efficient are potential infrastructure sharing business models for the 5G era (and beyond)? This significant question needs to be addressed if we are to deliver universal affordable broadband in line with Target 9.1 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Although almost two-thirds of the global population is now connected, many users still lack access to high-speed and reliable broadband connectivity. Indeed, some of the largest connectivity issues are associated with those living in areas of low economic viability. Consequently, this assessment evaluates the cost implications of different infrastructure sharing business models using a techno-economic assessment framework. The results indicate that a rural 5G neutral host network (NHN) strategy helps to reduce total cost between 10 and 50% compared with other sharing strategies. We also find that, compared to a baseline strategy with No Sharing, the net present value of rural 5G sharing strategies can earn between 30 and 90% more profit. The network upgrades to 5G using various sharing strategies are most sensitive to changes in the average revenue per user, the adoption rate, and the amount of existing site infrastructure. For example, the results from this study show that a 20% variation in demand revenue is estimated to increase the net present value of the sharing strategies by 2–5 times compared to the No Sharing strategy. Similarly, a 10% increase in existing infrastructure lowers the net present value by 8–30%. The infrastructure sharing strategies outlined in this study have the potential to enhance network viability while bridging the digital divide in remote and rural locations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomp.2023.1191853/full5Gnetwork slicingnetwork upgraderural connectivitytechno-economic feasibilitywireless and mobile technology |
| spellingShingle | Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar Edward J. Oughton Edward J. Oughton Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas Frontiers in Computer Science 5G network slicing network upgrade rural connectivity techno-economic feasibility wireless and mobile technology |
| title | Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas |
| title_full | Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas |
| title_fullStr | Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas |
| title_short | Techno-economic assessment of 5G infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas |
| title_sort | techno economic assessment of 5g infrastructure sharing business models in rural areas |
| topic | 5G network slicing network upgrade rural connectivity techno-economic feasibility wireless and mobile technology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomp.2023.1191853/full |
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