On the cost efficiency of user deployed access points integrated in mobile networks

Open access to private, user deployed, access points is a promising candidate for provisioning of high data rates in public wireless access systems. This deployment strategy should especially be an efficient method to serve indoor users in cities with a significant penetration of fixed broadband networks. We estimate the infrastructure cost for different mixes of operator deployed (HSDPA macro cells and 802.11g WLAN) and user deployed access points. The network is dimensioned according to a stochastic (log-normally distributed) model for traffic density. Results indicate that, with the modelling and assumptions used, user deployed access points lower the infrastructure cost for traffic densities above 10Mbps/km (10 times the traffic of typical private speech users in a city center). Moreover, only a few percent of the subscribers need to install open access points to cover a significant fraction of the total traffic terminated indoors.