Scenario Analysis on LTE mobile network virtualization

Abstract

The LTE mobile network has dominated the mobile market nowadays. However, the LTE mobile network cannot deal with the growing data traffic due to the insufficient capacity and lack of network flexibility. The LTE mobile network virtualization, on the other hand, is a technology enable the LTE mobile network to meet those increasing requirements. Some researches of the LTE mobile network virtualization have been done in terms of the technology study and cost measurement. Yet, no research deployed in the LTE mobile network virtualization take the uncertainties into account. This thesis focuses on figuring out the overview LTE ecosystem in the next five years by considering uncertainties.

The key trends and uncertainties which have the huge influence to the future LTE mobile network virtualization are identified in brainstorm sessions. The final two key uncertainties are 1) What will be the competition level of the mobile market (high or low)? 2) Will virtualization of LTE lower the costs significantly? Then the four alternative scenarios of the future LTE mobile network are developed in the end of the scenario planning process based on the final key uncertainties.

The scenarios indicate that the LTE mobile network virtualization will be developed by different stakeholders in different scenarios. Also, the degree of the LTE mobile network virtualization depends on the willingness to invest of stakeholders.