100% organic: design and implementation of self-sustaining cellular networks

A new model for developing cellular-like networks is emerging in the market in which end users own and install part of the infrastructure and share it with other customers. The network grows "organically" as more end users join and contribute to its expansion. To drastically reduce the cost of these customer-installed networks, self-managed service designs are needed that implement all the services and their management functionality with minimal support from a core network or central planning entity. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of two basic cellular network services, authentication, and location registration, from which we learn some important insights into the design of future services. We also highlight challenges that need to be solved in order for organic networks to prove a viable alternative to centrally managed cellular infrastructures.