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.