Wireless Network Virtualization as an Enabler for Spectrum Sharing

Spectrum Sharing and Wireless Network Virtualization have been explored as methods to achieve spectrum efficiency, increase network capacity and, overall, to address the existing spectrum scarcity problems. This work aims at exploring the link between these two topics, by specifically placing virtualization as a technology that can render spectrum sharing schemes feasible. No complete analysis can be made without taking into account three important axes: technology, policy and economics. In this light, in order to explore how virtualization enables spectrum sharing, flexibility is studied as a common attribute, due to the characteristics it presents regarding the three preceding axes. By determining how spectrum sharing, wireless virtualization and flexibility tie together, ground can be laid toward exploring further opportunities that would enhance spectrum usage, making it possible for this resource to foster these days’ ever-increasing demand.