Abstract:
Recent years have witnessed the rapid growth of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which operate on top of existing cellular infrastructures of base carriers, whil...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Recent years have witnessed the rapid growth of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which operate on top of existing cellular infrastructures of base carriers, while offering cheaper or more flexible data plans compared to those of the base carriers. In this paper, we present a two-year measurement study towards understanding various fundamental aspects of today's MVNO ecosystem, including its architecture, customers, performance, economics, and the complex interplay with the base carrier. Our study focuses on a large commercial MVNO with one million customers, operating atop a nation-wide base carrier. Our measurements clarify several key concerns raised by MVNO customers, such as inaccurate billing and potential performance discrimination with the base carrier. We also leverage big data analytics, statistical modeling, and machine learning to address the MVNO's key concerns with regard to data usage prediction, data plan reselling, customer churn mitigation, and billing delay reduction. Our proposed techniques can help achieve higher revenues and improved services for commercial MVNOs.
Published in: IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking ( Volume: 28, Issue: 3, June 2020)
Funding Agency:
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Yang Li received the B.S. degree from the School of Software, Tsinghua University, in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the M.E. degree with the School of Software. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, machine learning, cloud computing/storage, and network measurement.
Yang Li received the B.S. degree from the School of Software, Tsinghua University, in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the M.E. degree with the School of Software. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, machine learning, cloud computing/storage, and network measurement.View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Jianwei Zheng received the B.S. degree from the School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, in 2019. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, network measurement, and cloud computing.
Jianwei Zheng received the B.S. degree from the School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, in 2019. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, network measurement, and cloud computing.View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Zhenhua Li (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from Nanjing University in 2005 and 2008, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree from Peking University in 2013, all in computer science and technology. He is currently an Associate Professor with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas cover cloud computing/storage/download, big data analysis, content distribution, and mobile Internet. He is...Show More
Zhenhua Li (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from Nanjing University in 2005 and 2008, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree from Peking University in 2013, all in computer science and technology. He is currently an Associate Professor with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas cover cloud computing/storage/download, big data analysis, content distribution, and mobile Internet. He is...View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
Yunhao Liu (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S. degree from Automation Department, Tsinghua University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science and engineering from Michigan State University. He is currently an MSU Foundation Professor and the Chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University. His research interests include sensor network and the IoT, localization, RFID, d...Show More
Yunhao Liu (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S. degree from Automation Department, Tsinghua University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science and engineering from Michigan State University. He is currently an MSU Foundation Professor and the Chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University. His research interests include sensor network and the IoT, localization, RFID, d...View more
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Feng Qian received the B.S. degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan. He worked at AT&T Labs and Indiana University. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (UMN). His research interests cover mobile systems, AR/VR, mobile networking (including 5G), wearable computing, real-world s...Show More
Feng Qian received the B.S. degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan. He worked at AT&T Labs and Indiana University. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (UMN). His research interests cover mobile systems, AR/VR, mobile networking (including 5G), wearable computing, real-world s...View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Sen Bai received the B.S. degree from the School of Software Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2008, and the M.S. degree from the Department of Computer Science, Jilin University, China, in 2013, where he received the Ph.D. degree in 2016. From 2017 to 2019, he was a Post-Doctoral Researcher with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research interests are in the area of wire...Show More
Sen Bai received the B.S. degree from the School of Software Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2008, and the M.S. degree from the Department of Computer Science, Jilin University, China, in 2013, where he received the Ph.D. degree in 2016. From 2017 to 2019, he was a Post-Doctoral Researcher with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research interests are in the area of wire...View more
Department of Computer Science, Binghamton University, Binghamton, USA
Yao Liu (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in computer science from Nanjing University and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from George Mason University. She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Computer Science, Binghamton University. Her research areas include Internet mobile streaming, multimedia computing, Internet measurement and content delivery, and cloud computing.
Yao Liu (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in computer science from Nanjing University and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from George Mason University. She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Computer Science, Binghamton University. Her research areas include Internet mobile streaming, multimedia computing, Internet measurement and content delivery, and cloud computing.View more
Xiaomi Technology Company Ltd., Beijing, China
Xianlong Xin received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science and technology from Nanjing University in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He is a Senior Manager of software engineering with Xiaomi Technology Company, Ltd. He is an expert at the IoT and big data computing.
Xianlong Xin received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science and technology from Nanjing University in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He is a Senior Manager of software engineering with Xiaomi Technology Company, Ltd. He is an expert at the IoT and big data computing.View more
Contents School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Yang Li received the B.S. degree from the School of Software, Tsinghua University, in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the M.E. degree with the School of Software. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, machine learning, cloud computing/storage, and network measurement.
Yang Li received the B.S. degree from the School of Software, Tsinghua University, in 2018, where he is currently pursuing the M.E. degree with the School of Software. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, machine learning, cloud computing/storage, and network measurement.View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Jianwei Zheng received the B.S. degree from the School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, in 2019. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, network measurement, and cloud computing.
Jianwei Zheng received the B.S. degree from the School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, in 2019. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas mainly include big data analysis, network measurement, and cloud computing.View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Zhenhua Li (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from Nanjing University in 2005 and 2008, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree from Peking University in 2013, all in computer science and technology. He is currently an Associate Professor with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas cover cloud computing/storage/download, big data analysis, content distribution, and mobile Internet. He is a member of the ACM.
Zhenhua Li (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from Nanjing University in 2005 and 2008, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree from Peking University in 2013, all in computer science and technology. He is currently an Associate Professor with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research areas cover cloud computing/storage/download, big data analysis, content distribution, and mobile Internet. He is a member of the ACM.View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
Yunhao Liu (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S. degree from Automation Department, Tsinghua University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science and engineering from Michigan State University. He is currently an MSU Foundation Professor and the Chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University. His research interests include sensor network and the IoT, localization, RFID, distributed systems, and cloud computing. He is a Fellow of the ACM.
Yunhao Liu (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S. degree from Automation Department, Tsinghua University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science and engineering from Michigan State University. He is currently an MSU Foundation Professor and the Chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University. His research interests include sensor network and the IoT, localization, RFID, distributed systems, and cloud computing. He is a Fellow of the ACM.View more
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Feng Qian received the B.S. degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan. He worked at AT&T Labs and Indiana University. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (UMN). His research interests cover mobile systems, AR/VR, mobile networking (including 5G), wearable computing, real-world system measurements, and system security.
Feng Qian received the B.S. degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan. He worked at AT&T Labs and Indiana University. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (UMN). His research interests cover mobile systems, AR/VR, mobile networking (including 5G), wearable computing, real-world system measurements, and system security.View more
School of Software, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Sen Bai received the B.S. degree from the School of Software Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2008, and the M.S. degree from the Department of Computer Science, Jilin University, China, in 2013, where he received the Ph.D. degree in 2016. From 2017 to 2019, he was a Post-Doctoral Researcher with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research interests are in the area of wireless ad hoc networks and intelligent transportation systems.
Sen Bai received the B.S. degree from the School of Software Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2008, and the M.S. degree from the Department of Computer Science, Jilin University, China, in 2013, where he received the Ph.D. degree in 2016. From 2017 to 2019, he was a Post-Doctoral Researcher with the School of Software, Tsinghua University. His research interests are in the area of wireless ad hoc networks and intelligent transportation systems.View more
Department of Computer Science, Binghamton University, Binghamton, USA
Yao Liu (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in computer science from Nanjing University and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from George Mason University. She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Computer Science, Binghamton University. Her research areas include Internet mobile streaming, multimedia computing, Internet measurement and content delivery, and cloud computing.
Yao Liu (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in computer science from Nanjing University and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from George Mason University. She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Computer Science, Binghamton University. Her research areas include Internet mobile streaming, multimedia computing, Internet measurement and content delivery, and cloud computing.View more
Xiaomi Technology Company Ltd., Beijing, China
Xianlong Xin received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science and technology from Nanjing University in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He is a Senior Manager of software engineering with Xiaomi Technology Company, Ltd. He is an expert at the IoT and big data computing.
Xianlong Xin received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science and technology from Nanjing University in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He is a Senior Manager of software engineering with Xiaomi Technology Company, Ltd. He is an expert at the IoT and big data computing.View more
