Techno-economic Comparison of Cognitive Radio and Software Defined Network (SDN) Cost Models in 5G Networks

5G is anticipated in 2020. In this generation of mobile networks, a great deal of requirements have been set. Although, there are many strong technologies in the telecommunications’ sector they do not respond to the 5G goals. On the other hand, telecommunication operators and providers do not want to invest in new equipment/architectures. Cognitive radio (CR) and software defined networking are two technologies with special and vigorous advantages. In this paper, several technical and economic models are developed. The CR is combined with the Stackelberg game. A sensitivity analysis is implemented and the parameters that impact mostly on the model are pinpointed. It is shown that the CR technology could offer all its fundamental cognitive advantages and even financial profits to the telecommunication companies.