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-helds below 3.5GHz?'

'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 utilisation'.

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 a mobile mesh architecture to provide a guaranteed quality of service.

Finally, the wider aspects of commercial innovation are considered.