Efficient mobile mesh networking: attractions, myths and techno-economic roadmap to successful commercial innovation

This paper examines four scalability hypotheses of interest for mobile meshes via the following questions: 'Do meshes self-generate capacity as new nodes join?' 'Are meshes more spectrally efficient?' 'Do directional antennas confer significant benefits for hand-held below 3.5 GHz?' 'No' is the answer because these hypotheses, whilst having a theoretical basis, can be shown to rely on inappropriate real world assumptions. However the following hypothesis is found to be true: 'Meshes may improve spectrum utilization'. Importantly however, there remain properties of meshes which make them uniquely attractive, such as coverage extension. However this raises a further question over the ability of mobile mesh architecture to provide a guaranteed quality of service. Finally, the wider aspects of commercial innovation are considered