In an embodiment, an adaptively-augmentable wireless network (100, FIG. 1) may include at least one mobile device (110-115) and at least one relay device (104-109). During network setup, a mobile device associated with a first host user may determine (505, FIG. 5) that no relay device signal is receivable by the mobile device which has an adequate signal quality. When an undeployed relay device is not available to the first host user, he mobile device may transmit (508) a deployment request message (700, FIG. 7). Another mobile device associated with a second host user may receive (902, FIG. 9) the deployment request message, and may determine (908) whether to initiate deployment of an undeployed relay device associated with the second host user. When the other mobile device decides to initiate deployment, it may transmit (912) a responsive deployment announcement message (800, FIG. 8). Accordingly, collaborative relay device deployment is achievable.