Analysis of Signaling Load and Negotiation Complexity using Network Composition in Multi-Provider Business Environments

In future mobile communications networks using Ambient Networks (AN) technology, users will be able to connect to a multitude of networks operated by different business entities. The technology enablers are advertising of access and service offers, multi-radio access, network selection and roaming support, negotiation of terms and conditions for attachment to networks. In this paper, we investigate the additional load on users and network resources for establishment and management of multiple network connections and business relations. The administrative load is analyzed using commercial uses cases and scenarios with a number of available networks, service providers and payment and ID providers. The signaling load for multiple attachment and negotiation procedures is estimated by modeling signaling sequences for a WLAN system enabled with AN technology. The signaling load is computed for varying numbers of users and for users with varying "willingness to evaluate and negotiate offers". The results show that the most important parameters are the number of attachment attempts per time unit. In the investigated scenarios, the relative load of business related signaling is 0.1 -1.0 % of the transferred user data. Although a large of number of different networks may be used, the number of business agreements and network connections that need to be handled simultaneously will be quite low.