A user subscription model in mobile radio access networks with network slicing

TL;DR

This paper develops a business model for resource sharing and user subscriptions in network slicing of mobile radio networks, analyzing its accuracy through simulations considering user mobility and radio propagation.

Contribution

It introduces a subscription model with closed-form equilibrium expressions and evaluates the logit model's validity in mobile scenarios using detailed simulations.

Findings

Logit model generally provides valid results in mobile radio scenarios.

Simulation confirms the model's applicability despite mobility and propagation complexities.

Provides insights into resource allocation and user behavior in network slicing.

Abstract

Network slicing is an architectural enabling technology that logically decouples the current cellular networks into infrastructure providers (InPs) and Network Slice Tenants (NSTs). The network resources (e.g., radio access resources at each cell) are owned by the InP, and are shared by the NSTs to provide a service to their mobile users. In this context, we proposed a business model that includes resource allocation and user subscription to NSTs in a competitive setting, and provides, among other things, closed-form expressions for the subscription indicators in equilibrium of each NST at each cell. This model relies on the widely adopted logit model to characterize user subscriptions. However, as a consequence of user mobility and radio propagation, some of the underlying assumptions in the logit model do not hold. Therefore, further research is needed to assess the accuracy of the results provided by the logit model in a mobile radio scenario. We carry out a thorough evaluation of the validity of the model by comparing its results against those obtained through computer simulation. Our simulation model includes complete and realistic characterizations of user mobility and radio propagation. From the results, we conclude in most cases the logit model provides valid results in a mobile radio scenario.