According to a report from Plextek commissioned by Ofcom, mesh networks will be "integral" to 4G networks. Mesh is good for extending network coverage when deployed with existing infrastructure, for WiFi hotspots or cellular multi hopping and for coverage extension in a city or urban areas, because mesh costs less than building new infrastructure and reduces the need for large cell sites. The downside of the network infrastructure schema is that large mesh deployments are not practical for real-time voice or video without additional infrastructure. The group found that the QoS via a mesh network will not be as good as existing services, unless the architect takes specific steps to reduce the dependence of performance on user behavior.
For more on mesh networks:
- check out this Web site