Passive infrastructure sharing refers to the practice of sharing non-electronic components and physical elements of a cell site, such as power supply and management systems, as well as backhaul transport networks. There are two primary categories within passive infrastructure sharing: site sharing and shared backhaul.
Site sharing involves the sharing of physical base station sites among multiple operators. This allows operators to easily share sites and maintain their strategic competitiveness based on the sites they share. It is a straightforward form of sharing that can be implemented on a per-site basis. One advantage of site sharing is that it simplifies operations since the network equipment remains separate for each operator. However, it’s important to note that the cost-saving potential of site sharing is relatively limited compared to other forms of sharing.
Passive infrastructure sharing offers certain benefits such as simplified operations and the ability to share physical sites, but its cost-saving potential is not as significant as other sharing methods. Nonetheless, it remains a viable option for operators looking to optimize their infrastructure resources.