Exploring the Possibilities for Collaboration among Dutch mobile Network Operators for C-ITS ready 5G Networks

Exploring the Possibilities for Collaboration among Dutch mobile Network Operators for C-ITS ready 5G Networks

van den Oever, Mark (TU Delft Technology, Policy and Management)

Annema, J.A. (mentor)
de Reuver, Mark (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Complex Systems Engineering and Management (CoSEM)

2024-03-19

Dutch road transportation networks are increasingly facing challenges regarding congestion, safety and environmental pollution. These challenges are intensified by increased urbanization and a growing need for connectivity . In the past, the remedy to most of these challenges laid in expanding the physical infrastructure through new asphalt. Nowadays, information and communication technologies increasingly play a role in infrastructure management by utilizing the available infrastructure more efficiently. With that, Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), presents a new beacon of hope. Through C-ITS, vehicles and infrastructure components are connected to realize a safe and efficient flow of traffic. However, the realization and implementation of C-ITS is hindered by legal, technological, economic and organizational challenges that need resolving. One of the main challenges is the absence of a sufficing robust network infrastructure that facilitates the data transmission across devices and road users. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), are believed to occupy a central role in the future, designing, building and operating these network infrastructures. However, MNOs are already facing challenges in making current 5G network business models profitable. New large investments already loom for MNOs to serve C-ITS, however, without profitable business models, further investments can be pushed to the future which can cause further delay of the deployment of C-ITS. Therefore this thesis aimed to identify conditions and potential forms of collaboration among Dutch MNOs for C-ITS ready networks. A literature review identified potential collaborative forms between private competing companies and provided an initial overview of conditions that can stimulate collaboration. Subsequent interview with stakeholders from the Dutch mobile network operator domain further refined these conditions and identified potential forms of collaboration that potentially can deliver viable collaborative efforts: knowledge sharing, joint R&D and passive network sharing. The research indicated that the creation of a shared vision across both the public and private domain is crucial to get an institutional environment that supports collaboration. On top of that, a sense of ‘needing each other’ needs to emerge between MNO’s in the form of individually unattainable profits. Although, regulation can also act as a pushing mechanism towards collaboration, it can’t force the creation of such networks. The realization of profitable business models is thus crucial for MNOs to build the networks. Further problems in collaboration come from severe distrust among MNOs who also have collaborative experiences which resulted in conflicts and opportunistic behavior. A public body can act as an independent ‘referee’ to mitigate these potential conflicts in future collaborative efforts. With that, a lot of challenges still need to be overcome to realize collaboration between MNOs which makes that collaborative efforts are unlikely to succeed in the near future.

Mobile Networks
5G
C-ITS
Collaboration
Mobile communication
Telecommunication
Intelligent Transport Systems

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:108458e1-561e-407e-a2c3-0fd747276914

Student theses

master thesis

© 2024 Mark van den Oever