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How to relieve mobile network overload from mobile over-the-top (OTT) traffic: Proposing a user-based content-sharing solution

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  • Kim, Hee Soo
  • Jang, Yumi
  • Lee, Sang Hyun
  • Kim, Seongcheol

Abstract

Today, a growing number of over-the-top (OTT) service users access content through mobile devices with dynamic consumption patterns, and enhanced mobility allows them to enjoy OTT content anytime and anywhere. However, mobile network infrastructures are struggling to keep up with this rising demand, leading to more frequent access delays and playback errors for users. To improve the OTT experience by enhancing the speed and reliability of content delivery while reducing the operational burden on mobile network operators (MNOs), this study proposes a novel approach that utilizes sociotemporal dynamics and trust among OTT service users to enable more efficient content distribution and sharing. To validate this approach, an agent-based model (ABM) testbed was developed to simulate an ecosystem for OTT content sharing that reflects the social context of user mobility and daily activities. The simulation results reveal that a content-sharing solution based on user trust can effectively reduce mobile data traffic. Building on this insight, we introduce a networking approach called ‘friendship-assisted relaying and distribution’ (FREND), which leverages social relationships to enhance content-sharing networks. Numerical evaluations demonstrate that the FREND solution outperforms traditional physical caching techniques in practical scenarios, offering a more efficient solution for managing mobile data traffic.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Hee Soo & Jang, Yumi & Lee, Sang Hyun & Kim, Seongcheol, 2025. "How to relieve mobile network overload from mobile over-the-top (OTT) traffic: Proposing a user-based content-sharing solution," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(4).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:49:y:2025:i:4:s030859612500028x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2025.102931
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mirta Galesic & Wändi Bruine de Bruin & Jonas Dalege & Scott L. Feld & Frauke Kreuter & Henrik Olsson & Drazen Prelec & Daniel L. Stein & Tamara van der Does, 2021. "Human social sensing is an untapped resource for computational social science," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7866), pages 214-222, July.
    2. Bauner, Christoph & Espin, Augusto, 2023. "Do subscribers of mobile networks care about Data Throttling?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(10).
    3. González-Méndez, Mauricio & Olaya, Camilo & Fasolino, Isidoro & Grimaldi, Michele & Obregón, Nelson, 2021. "Agent-Based Modeling for Urban Development Planning based on Human Needs. Conceptual Basis and Model Formulation," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    4. Muhammad Farooq & Valliappan Raju, 2019. "Impact of Over-the-Top (OTT) Services on the Telecom Companies in the Era of Transformative Marketing," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(2), pages 177-188, June.
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    7. Lim, Chulmin & Kim, Seongcheol, 2023. "Why do Korean users intend to subscribe to global OTT service through their local IPTV service?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(4).
    8. Jang, Yumi & Kim, Seongcheol, 2024. "A decision model for OTT service users to adopt wireless D2D caching networks: Exploring the Korean case," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(7).
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