CHetNet: crowdsourcing to heterogeneous cellular networks

Heterogeneous networking (HetNet) is a promising solution to meet the ever increasing demands of wireless applications. However, it is a significant challenge for mobile network operators to deploy HetNet at a large scale. To address this issue, this article discusses a new paradigm in which potential partners are encouraged to participate in facilitating HetNet deployment. This idea is inspired by the emerging phenomenon of crowdsourcing; hence, for HetNet with the feature of crowdsourcing, we have coined the term CHetNet. In this article, we discuss the essential elements of CHetNet, and propose a basic working framework. Four possible application scenarios are discussed to demonstrate how MNOs and their partners collaborate with each other to deliver wireless services. A case study is provided to illustrate that a win-win situation can be achieved by the proposed CHetNet.