1 research outputs found
Multi-layer Game-Theoretical Analysis of Wireless Markets with Market Segmentation
New larger and more diverse wireless markets have emerged. Modelling them can
be challenging due to various business and network aspects. Existing models of
wireless markets are either microscopic, focusing on a specific technical
aspect (e.g., network topology) at a fine scale or macroscopic modelling
wireless markets at a large-scale, e.g., considering homogeneous populations.
In contrast to these approaches, this work develops a multi-layer
game-theoretical framework, which allows providers to model users at
multiple-level of detail by considering a different number of user
sub-populations. It also models the mobility, traffic demand, and networks of
providers. A population game using Logit dynamics models the user selection of
the dataplan and provider, capturing the diversity in customer profile and
relaxing the assumption about the user rationality. It analytically computes
the equilibriums of users and providers and numerically evaluates the
performance of the market as a function of the traffic demand, the number of
available dataplans, and the knowledge about customer population. Significant
benefits in revenue can be achieved by a provider when it integrates more
detailed information about the user population. The number of disconnected
users also decreases. Moreover the availability of several dataplans further
enhances the gains. The stronger the provider, the more prominent the benefits.
However the benefits diminish when all the providers model the customer
population at the same degree of detail due to an increased competition. The
analysis highlights the strategies of the providers depending on their
capacity, level of knowledge about the customer population, and traffic
conditions. It illustrates how a provider changes its strategy under different
conditions, focusing potentially on different customer segments and also the
pressure introduced by specific customer types