Mobile Opportunistic Traffic Offloading: A business case analysis

Mobile cellular network operators in all over the world are facing dramatic challenges due to widespread distribution of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices that are demanding data-hungry multimedia services. Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) Mobile Opportunistic Traffic Offloading (MOTO) project tries to alleviate this burden on mobile operators by investigating a next generation traffic offloading architecture that can exploit both cellular to other wireless infrastructures as well as offloading device-to-device ad hoc communications between users devices. On the other hand, business case analysis of this new approach has yet to be analyzed. This paper discusses a forecast analysis of the application of MOTO solution within offloading market by investigating different business models and scenarios as well as value chains between new actors. The simulations results, which are also supported by mobile operators historical data, demonstrate achievements of MOTO approach over main financial indicators and various trade-offs involved in the deployment scenarios.