Game-Theoretic Evaluation of Competing Wireless Access Networks for Offering Mobile Internet

In this paper a complete business case for the rollout of a municipal wireless access network for offering Mobile Internet is evaluated. Two different business players, a municipality deploying a WiFi network and a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) offering 3G femtocells, are considered. A case study is performed in the city of Ghent (Belgium) and different customer classes and service offers are defined. First of all, a Net Present Value (NPV) analysis is elaborated for the two stand-alone cases in order to estimate their economic viability. For both players, a positive business case is found in the city centre of Ghent.