This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Tsirakis, C, Lopez‐Aguilera, E, Agapiou, G, Varoutas, D. Matching theory as enabler of efficient spectrum management in 5G networks. Trans Emerging Tel Tech. 2020; 31:e3769., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/ett.3769. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.This paper analyzes the spectrum trading problem in virtualized fifth generation (5G) networks in order to enhance the network performance with respect to the spectrum utilization. The problem is modeled as a Many-to-Many Matching (M2MM) game with utility-based preferences and determines the matching between mobile network operators and mobile virtual network operators. The two proposed versions of utility functions for each set aim at maximizing the satisfaction of both sets with conflicting interests and improving the overall spectrum efficiency. In the simulation evaluation, the proposed scheme is compared with three different schemes in terms of the system utility, individual and pair matching satisfaction. We also investigate the scalability aspects, the strategy plan impact on the matching performance of our proposed scheme, and, at the same time, we attempt to make appropriate assumptions closer to reality. Our proposed scheme shows much better performance than the other schemes achieving a quite high level of satisfaction for the matching result on both sets.Postprint (author's final draft
