A Solution to Mobile Phone Infrastructure

As the amount of mobile phone usage increases, the cost of developing and improving infrastructure increases as well. The amount of power needed to keep towers and connections up and running will increase proportionately. However, a study at Queen's University in Belfast has explored the idea of using mobile phones themselves as network nodes for transmitting data. In doing so, infrastructure costs will decrease and power will be saved, in theory, since data will be transmitted across shorter distances between phones, rather than between many phones and a single network node that is far away (as is the current state). In this situation, the more people in a certain area, the more potential for stronger data connections, which is drastically different than the situation now.

I believe none will be more positively impacted by such an advancement than those within the developing world. Since market potential is much less in the poorer areas of the world, the larger mobile phone companies have been hard pressed to improve or even add mobile phone infrastructure in these areas. Yet, if mobile phones are used as network nodes, infrastructure costs will decrease, and phone companies will be more likely to improve infrastructure in these areas since their would be more potential for making profits in these untapped markets. As connectivity with developing nations increases, the ability for those within such areas to improve their economic situations increases as well.