Pricing Models for 5G Multi-Tenancy Using Game Theory Framework

Abstract

Regions with little or no access to modern information and communication technologies (ICT) experience the digital divide, and this is typically more prominent in rural areas. 5G network slicing with multi-tenancy, known as neutral host networks (NHN), is being investigated to reduce the digital divide in regions with and without existing infrastructure. Therefore, the key questions that need to be addressed include: What are the potential pricing strategies for 5G that support multi-operator network sharing? Which pricing strategy is most profitable in areas with a digital divide for the infrastructure provider (InP) and the national 5G mobile operator? This paper evaluates the pricing strategies for 5G NHN in rural areas to attract investment from stakeholders and maximize their return on investment. The study uses the game theory framework to understand the suitability of three pricing strategies: Shapley value, bargaining game, and dynamic pricing, to help minimize the digital divide. We also apply the Nash equilibrium concept to find the most suitable pricing strategy for various input scenarios for the players. The results of the case study for rural areas show that dynamic pricing produces the highest payoff compared to the other two strategies for the InP and the operators in a scenario with a combined total subscriber number of ≥ 200. In contrast, the Shapley value is a more suitable strategy for InP for a combined total subscriber ≤ 200, and for MNOs with a combined total subscriber ≥ 280. Applying the Nash equilibrium concept to the players in this game suggests that dynamic pricing produces a mutually beneficial strategy.

A Flexible Infrastructure-Sharing 5G Network Architecture Based on Network Slicing and Roaming

“…This approach also enables MNOs to expand their mobile network coverage, addressing the increasing difficulty in acquiring sites for antennae and base stations, facilitating a swifter evolution of 5G, and reducing the cost and development time of technologies to meet the functionalities and demands of 5G [3,7].…”

“…A potential solution to mitigate this issue is the implementation of neutral hosts as network service providers (NSPs) to enable infrastructure sharing among multiple tenants, the customer service providers (CSPs). The use of neutral hosts has been predominantly focused on rural areas, where deploying new networks might not be cost-effective for CSPs, as well as in public events and indoor spaces where there is limited room for each CSP to deploy individual infrastructures [3]. Another advantage of a 5G neutral host is the possibility of enabling non-mobile network operators (MNOs) to supply 5G services to their customers using the shared infrastructure.…”

A Reinforcement Learning-Based Reverse Auction Enforcing Smart Pricing Policies towards B5G Offloading Strategies

“…The studies also examine the influence of pricing strategies on market dynamics and operator profits in different competitive environments. Another representative example, where researchers focus heavily on the external factors, can be found in [26]. In this paper, the researchers examined parameters such as demand-supply evaluations, network traffic, latency, enduser figures, and subscriber growth rates in order to ascertain the possible viability of the network.…”