MOCN Gateways: Making Network Sharing a Strategic Advantage

For mobile operators, the economics of network deployment are becoming harder to ignore. Building overlapping radio infrastructure is expensive, while customers and regulators expect increasingly broad coverage. Spectrum is scarce and strategically valuable.

That makes network sharing more than a cost-reduction exercise. It can help operators extend coverage, improve spectrum utilisation and support new connectivity models without duplicating the full network.

The challenge is making shared infrastructure work without giving up control of customers, traffic, security or commercial interests. That is where Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) architectures and the signalling solutions supporting them become important.

Why network sharing matters now

Infrastructure sharing is already established across the mobile industry. The GSMA identifies it as a way to reduce duplication, extend coverage and improve network economics. MOCN goes further than passive sharing because operators can share both radio infrastructure and spectrum. (GSMA)

The model is being used at significant scale. In Malaysia, six operators are participating in a MOCN initiative linked to the country’s Jendela programme. GSMA reports that 4G population coverage increased from 92% in 2020 to 99% by the end of 2024. (GSMA)

The issue is also becoming relevant to new connectivity models. In the UK, Ofcom has introduced regulations enabling certain Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite services using mobile spectrum, including arrangements involving mobile operators and satellite partners. (www.ofcom.org.uk)

MOCN: sharing the RAN, retaining the core

MOCN is a 3GPP network-sharing architecture in which multiple operators connect their core networks to a shared Radio Access Network (RAN). The operators can therefore share radio infrastructure and spectrum while retaining separate core-network environments. (ETSI)

For the business, that separation matters. Subscriber management, policy, charging and other core functions can remain under each operator’s control while the radio layer is shared.

The boundary between those environments needs careful design.

Traffic must reach the correct operator’s core. Signalling must remain segregated. Capacity and failures need to be managed without allowing a problem in one participant’s network to spread to another.

A routing failure is therefore not simply a technical incident. It can mean failed services, charging errors, revenue leakage or customers unable to connect.

The MOCN Gateway is a control point

A MOCN Gateway can provide a controlled point between the shared RAN and participating core networks, handling routing and policy requirements while supporting resilience, load management, security and, where necessary, interworking between different technologies.

Five questions operators should answer

What is being shared?
Sites, RAN equipment, spectrum, transport and signalling each create different dependencies and responsibilities.

Who retains control?
Ownership of subscriber traffic, routing, security policy and service assurance should be explicit.

Where are the trust boundaries?
Shared infrastructure should not create unnecessary connectivity between otherwise separate networks.

What happens when something fails?
Congestion, configuration errors and equipment failures should be contained wherever possible.

Can the architecture evolve?
Today’s arrangement may eventually need to support 5G standalone, additional operators, new spectrum arrangements or D2D services.

From cost-sharing to controlled connectivity

The attraction of MOCN is straightforward: operators can share expensive network resources while retaining separate core networks and commercial identities.

But the economics only work if the shared environment can be operated reliably. Routing, security, interworking, resilience and visibility are part of the architecture, not functions to be considered after deployment.

Terrestrial and satellite connectivity are overlapping more and more, complicating boundaries. Mobile operators, satellite providers and infrastructure partners will increasingly need to coordinate access to networks and spectrum without blurring responsibility for security, service quality and regulatory compliance.

“As network sharing becomes more common, the technical decisions around routing, security, interworking and control will have a direct bearing on its commercial success. For operators considering MOCN or other shared-network architectures, those decisions are worth addressing early—with the network architecture, regulatory requirements and operational model considered together.”

Bradley Knight, Operations Manager at Squire Technologies

Download the Presentation

Squire Technologies is an expert in telecommunications signalling solutions, including routing, interworking, network security and signalling technologies across HTTP/2, Diameter, SS7 and SIP. Its expertise is directly relevant to the signalling challenges surrounding complex multi-network architectures.

For operators considering MOCN, spectrum sharing or other shared-network arrangements, Squire Technologies can discuss the signalling, routing and gateway requirements involved and explore potential solutions. Click here to speak to an expert.

References

A State of the art Unified Signalling Platform

Sigla brings a homogenous layer to the management and operation of multi-generation networks, freeing operators from the burden of managing multiple core networks, and reducing network complexity and operating costs.

Learn More About Sigla

Speak to an Expert

NEWSROOM