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Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) offer mobile telecommunications services by purchasing capacity from mobile network operators (MNOs) and competing on the retail market. This study examines national data to identify possible impacts of MVNOs on the mobile market and on mobile service users. While open wholesale markets for MVNOs are relatively widespread in European countries, evidence of their impact on end users is limited due to a lack of previous research. This study uses data from the market entry of MVNOs in the Czech Republic in 2013 to estimate the impact on end users. Based on synthetic control methods, the results clearly show that the market entry of MVNOs led to a decrease in the price of calls and to a decrease in the average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) of operators. However, no significant effect on the price of data or on consumption was found. These results have some implications for policy and for the mobile industry. • A unique analysis of the impact of MVNOs market entry on prices, consumption and ARPU. • Increased market competition due to the entry of MVNOs has resulted in lower voice unit prices and total ARPU, but has no effect on data market services. • The impact of MVNOs in the dominant data market seems to be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless network virtualization is a promising solution to improve spectrum efficiency. For a wireless downlink communication system with multiple mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), we propose a decentralized blockchain-based dynamic spectrum acquisition scheme. Our proposed scheme aims to minimize the sum transmit power at all MVNOs while satisfying the average data transmission rate thresholds. For each MVNO, the required wireless spectrum to provide customized services to the mobile users (MUs) is predicted using the half-range Gauss-Hermite quadrature. Based on the predicted values, all the MVNOs carry out a blockchain-based distributed alternative direction method of multipliers to obtain the global optimal solution to the aforementioned sum transmit power minimization problem. To examine the effectiveness of our proposed scheme, with known system parameters, we also theoretically derive the semi-closed-form solution to the actually required sum transmit power minimization problem subject to data transmission rate constraints. Simulation results illustrate that our proposed dynamic spectrum acquisition scheme achieves almost the same minimum sum power as the non-causal scheme, which assumes the number of active MUs in all cells and all the channels are known non-causally for the optimal dynamic spectrum allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an empirical model of service quality and appropriate relationality for cellular operators, so that service users can achieve high satisfaction and loyalty. This occurs at the level of the prices offered for the lower middle segment, as well as at the level of quality for the upper middle segment. The method used is the descriptive and verification survey. The sample consists of 285 students in the third semester of eight tertiary institutions. To measure all the constructions and indicators a research questionnaire was used and the method of data analysis was SEM (Structural equation modeling). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose an architecture of software-defined information-centric network virtualization with device-to-device (D2D) communications, which facilitates dynamic virtual resource allocation and content caching via a software-defined networking (SDN) controller with a global view of the system. In our proposed framework, substrate physical resources can be virtualized and shared among multiple mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Meanwhile, by means of integrating D2D communications into information-centric wireless networks, content caching is enabled not only in the air but in mobile devices as well. In addition, taking into consideration inaccurate channel estimation and measurement, we formulate the virtual resource allocation and caching optimization as a discrete stochastic optimization problem in which imperfect channel state information is incorporated. Because the formulated virtual resource allocation problem is a large-scale combinational optimization problem, we exploit discrete stochastic approximation approaches to cope with it. Finally, extensive simulations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme with different system parameters. Simulation results show that MVNOs can benefit from not only the sharing of physical infrastructure but from the caching functionality that exists in both the air and mobile devices as well. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mobile users often post nearest neighbor queries based on their current location. Usually, the mobile terminal (user) sends a request to query an untrusted location server, including the position information of the mobile terminal requests, thus leading to the disclosure of one's location. For mobile users providing location services, the privacy of mobile users is crucial. This demand is particularly evident in the mobile network application. According to the structural characteristics of the mobile network, the use of hidden ring and hidden tree can blur mobile subscriber location information in the mobile network and effectively ensure location privacy. This paper proposes a new method of protecting location privacy known as Hidden Ring and Hidden Forest (HRHF), which is the use of breadth-first search to meet certain requirements of the ring and forest in the graph. Based on experimental testing of real and simulated data sets, the HRHF method has demonstrated its effectiveness in protecting location privacy and efficiency in providing quality services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article first analyzes the requirements and challenges in the future 5G mobile wireless network. Then the authors describe a new method for radio access technologies called virtual RATs. The proposed scheme can provide a flexible and tailored access network that can meet the requirements and overcome the challenges in mobile broadband networks. The authors also present a high level design of the overall architecture and protocol stack for virtual RATs. Two concepts, virtual RAT Types and interface sets, are introduced. Two essential features, flexible control/user (C/U) plane separation and coordination between virtual RATs, are also discussed. Examples are provided to show how to achieve a flexible and tailored access network for services by using virtual RATs. Finally, the capability of hardware to support implementation of virtual RATs is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) provides mobile telecommunication services by eluding the constraints of the radio communication infrastructure and establishing an agreement with a hosting network operator (HNO) for the use of its spectrum. Thus, MVNOs offer a wide range of mobile services and directly compete with every mobile network operator (MNO). This paper studies the economic justifications for potential regulatory intervention that defines the level of mobile termination rates (MTRs) and negotiations and agreements among MVNOs and HNOs. The results show that symmetric MTR reduction leads to competition growth among operators, forcing every operator to reduce retail prices and, consequently, to enhancing consumer welfare. The paper also finds that a collaborative strategy adopted by an HNO and an MVNO is advantageous for both and induces a reduction in retail prices, thus weakening other MNOs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]