How much can White-Fi networks deliver to cellular operators?

Abstract

In order to alleviate the mobile data explosion problem, a Wi-Fi offloading strategy has been proposed. Given the recent deployment of Wi-Fi like systems in the TVWS (TV White Space), the mobile offloading to White-Fi networks is an attractive solution to mobile operators to provide full broadband coverage in dense urban environments. To quantify the amount of throughput and coverage gain achieved from users offloading, this paper conducts a simulation-based analysis for a range of carrier class access points (AP) densities considering practical deployment of the IEEE 802.11af and 802.11g networks. The study takes into account a realistic modelling of the TV channels availability and wireless channel propagation. The interference from co-channel operation and DVB-T systems are also considered. The paper shows that the opportunistic deployment of White-Fi networks generally results in high throughput gain and coverage probability at various AP densities as compared to Wi-Fi only networks. It also grants a higher fraction of users with high throughput capability as compared to 802.11g only networks. In addition, the study provides the mobile operators with a range of performance statistics that can help them to select the suitable range of AP deployment to meet certain performance thresholds.