Virtual cells for radio access network (RAN) sharing

A method of wireless base station aggregation, comprising:

• operating a plurality of wireless base stations, each being operable to communicate with a plurality of user equipment (UEs);
• aggregating the plurality of wireless base stations into a virtual base station;
• interfacing with a Mobile Central Office (MCO), the MCO being operable to communicate with subscribing UEs through a network;
• processing a request from the MCO for access to at least a portion of communications provided by the virtual base station;
• granting the request;
• intermediating on behalf of the MCO;
• and
• exchanging communications between the MCO and a first of the subscribing UEs operating within the virtual base station,
• wherein:
• the network comprises another plurality of wireless base stations;
• the other plurality of wireless base stations operates according to Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocols;
• at least one of the plurality of wireless base stations of the virtual base station operates according to a second generation (2G) wireless protocol, a third generation (3G) wireless protocol, or a combination thereof;
• and
• the method further comprises translating between the wireless protocol of the other plurality of wireless base stations and the wireless protocol of the virtual base station.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a wireless telephony processor, direct the processor to:

• operate a plurality of wireless base stations, each being operable to communicate with a plurality of user equipment (UEs);
• aggregate the plurality of wireless base stations into a virtual base station;
• interface with a Mobile Central Office (MCO), the MCO being operable to communicate with subscribing UEs through a network;
• process a request from the MCO for access to at least a portion of communications provided by the virtual base station;
• grant the request;
• intermediate on behalf of the MCO;
• and
• exchange communications between the MCO and a first of the subscribing UEs operating within the virtual base station,
• wherein:
• the network comprises another plurality of wireless base stations;
• the other plurality of wireless base stations operates according to Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocols;
• at least one of the plurality of wireless base stations of the virtual base station operates according to a second generation (2G) wireless protocol, a third generation (3G) wireless protocol, or a combination thereof;
• and
• the computer readable medium further comprises instructions that direct the processor to translate between the wireless protocol of the other plurality of wireless base stations and the wireless protocol of the virtual base station.