WP 2

NETWORK BUSINESS MODEL

The objectives of this work package are to:

  • analyse current mobile radio communication systems economic life cycle properties

  • establish a network-resource open market model and economic/ business scenarios

  • define the economic properties and the open market rules of interaction

  • assess the economic impact of resource broking versus auctioning

  • investigate and develop novel business concepts and electronic Business Descriptive Language (eBDL)

  • investigate the benefits of ‘small scale’ contribution to network build and operation

  • investigate impact on economy and employment

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Initially the current economic concepts of mobile communication networks will be studied in order to identify the key elements and their way of interaction. The life cycle of current systems will be studied. The impact of allocation of spectrum resources to inflexible technological paradigms and the related long-term blocking of these resources in the light of swift user and business demand changes will be researched.

In contrast to current procedures an open market model will be developed aiming at simple, flexible and widespread access to network resources and enabling the prevalence of the highest added value services. The entities involved in ‘dynamic resource allocation’ need to be defined, their economic independence established and their rules of interaction analysed. These properties need to be developed in close co-operation with the WP 3, which will assist in describing technical feasibility. Once completed, the economic model of an open mobile radio access network has been established, its response to changing economic and business scenarios will be analysed and compared to traditional schemes.

Another activity is the investigation of novel business concepts based on the development of an electronic Business Descriptive Language (eBDL). Next to the development of eBDL this activity is twofold: new business scenarios concerned with the increased technical capabilities of the network (e.g. positioning, ANYSERVICE, simultaneous radio channels) will be investigated and described. Secondly the potential of new business concepts in the build and operation (infrastructure & services) of the new network will be analysed. Strong liaisons with the other workpackages will be maintained in order to achieve simple ‘access’ interfaces to maximise the effect of small scale contribution possibilities.

Lastly, the model analysis will be condensed in a description of the open mobile radio access network benefits and a multimedia enhanced demonstration. In comparison with legacy networks the innovative features, the ‘openness’ to new economic and business scenarios, the potential to stimulate new methods of work and commerce in all areas of economy and its expected impact on employment will be described.