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Mobile Infrastructure

This page is aa dumping ground for my research on mobile networks and technologies

UK Infrastructure

  • Owned by 4 mobile network operators, Three, EE, VMO2, and Vodafone.
  • Each of the 4 MNOs holds spectra licenced through Ofcom
    • Price for this is set each year at a fair rate
    • Sublicensed or shared between some operators, e.g., Vodafone and O2 share radio equipment and backhaul
  • Most are switching off legacy 2G and 3G infrastructure by end of 2024
  • Current IoT devices should use the Cat-M LTE or NB-IoT bands
  • Licensing is possible for parts of the network where operators don't want to/can't afford to cover, giving rise to Private LTE/5G networks
    • Can obtain licensing from Ofcom either shared access or local access
    • This then allows deployment of own LTE or 5G network using spectra licensed nationally to MNOs
  • MNOs also allow for other user's to make use of their radio infrastructure, wholesaling to MVNOs, e.g., Tesco Mobile, Giffgaff
    • MVNOs typically have a lower QoS class than the main providers, but help to increase utilisation on the network to cover possible losses

Deploying own Network

  • Many commercial radios exist, which can be programmed and deployed
  • More geared towards Telcos, so more industrial and expensive, but expected to last for much longer
  • Can achieve a lot with an SDR, such as the LimeSDR Mini, then the 4G signal is modulated by software and sent out via the SDR
  • srsRAN is one good example of this
  • Need to have own programmable SIM cards or something capable of installing an eSIM profile
  • Can run on Raspberry Pi 4B
  • Very illegal unless you have a licence or use coax

Satellite-based Networks

  • SpaceX have agreements with some American carriers to use direct-to-cell, removing the need for land-based base stations
  • Supposedly right on the edge of technical capabilities at the required frequencies

IoT Connectivity

  • Easiest form I have found so far is to use Twilio Super SIM
    • Monthly registration cost, then cost per MB of data
    • Works across the world, with Twilio having carrier agreements across most of the world, with varying prices
  • Can also use LoRa which gets high propogation as it is encoded with a chirp spread spectrum modulation technique
  • IEEE 802.15.4, which is the underlying PHY and MAC for 6LoWPAN as an upper layer. Good for fixed wireless links, and builds on IPv6 connectivity