Pieter Ballon

Business Modelling Revisited: The Configuration of Control and Value

This paper provides a theoretically grounded framework for designing and analysing business models for (mobile) ICT services and systems. It reviews the most topical literature on business modelling, as well as general strategic management, industrial economics and network economics literature, constructing a new integrated framework. Business model design is interpreted as the (re)configuration of control parameters on the one hand, and value parameters on the other hand within a particular innovation system.

Test and Experimentation Platforms for Broadband Innovation: Examining European Practice

Various public and private stakeholders are creating, supporting and using environments for joint testing and experimenting of broadband innovations. This paper proposes a conceptual framework of test and experimentation platforms (TEPs), that differentiates six types of TEPs, based on a.o. technological maturity, openness and focus; and consists of testbeds, field trials, prototyping platforms, living labs, market pilots and societal pilots. The major rationales to establish TEPs are identified and the a priori requirements for TEPs are deduced. These are then matched with the actual characteristics of TEPs as they are being set up and used in three European benchmark countries today. In general, it can be said that while specific context and country influences are obvious, the TEPs that were examined exhibit a remarkable commonality in the sense that for all types of TEPs, we have found ample instances of valuable, open initiatives aimed at joint innovation, and mostly involving (business or individual) users.

How about an App Store? Enablers and Constraints in Platform Strategies for Mobile Network Operators

This paper describes the platformisation of the mobile services domain, which in recent years has become a successful strategy for some hardware manufacturers and software companies. While pursuing diverging platform strategies and business models, they have succeeded in creating a demand for mobile software and content with end-users. Mobile network operators have lagged behind in this area and are now attempting to keep up with other initiatives. This paper explores the question which platform type an operator should adopt if he wants to play a meaningful role in the mobile service domain. It describes advantages and disadvantages of different platform types and lists some core competences an operator should have, or develop, in order to successful adopt a certain platform type.

Changing business models for Europe's mobile telecommunications industry: The impact of alternative wireless technologies

The exploitation of third-generation mobile networks in Europe may be challenged by the deployment of so-called Alternative Wireless Technologies (AWTs). This article presents an overview of the availability and usage of AWTs in the 25 EU member states. It identifies the main drivers and bottlenecks for AWTs and analyses to which extent established mobile operators are active in this market. The article concludes that the convergence and integration of cellular technologies and AWTs is high on the telecommunications industrys agenda, implying a gradual shift in business models for mobile operators towards mobile service providers that manage network heterogeneity and complexity on behalf of the user.

Flexible spectrum and future business models for the mobile industry

The concept of flexible spectrum is often considered as a medium-to-long-term solution to overcome some of the current inefficiencies and high entry barriers plaguing the mobile industry. Increasingly, a cognitive pilot channel (CPC) is regarded as a central enabler for flexible spectrum. This paper outlines the CPC concept from a business point of view and clarifies its current status in the standardization and regulation fields. The idea of a worldwide CPC will be under consideration by the World Radio Conference in 2011. Based on several potential CPC implementations, the paper identifies a number of flexible spectrum business configurations and revenue sharing models. It also performs an initial forward-looking evaluation of these models using a business model scorecard approach, and finds that while the scope appears to be limited for a fully competitive, cross-operator spectrum market, several platform models (e.g. association or consortium models) stand out as feasible options.

Business model analysis as a new tool for policy evaluation: policies for digital content platforms

Purpose – This paper aims to explain and demonstrate how business model frameworks can be used to understand market developments and to assess the role of policy in (multi‐sided) ICT markets.Design/methodology/approach – The research approach in the paper builds on integrated business model frameworks, which cover (much) more than the financial decisions of one single firm. A case study approach is implemented and tested in two studies on digital content platforms.Findings – Relevant policy instruments are identified and explored. To some extent, the findings are complementary or contradictory to the findings of existing studies on digital content platforms. The paper includes policy recommendations related to mobile and fixed content platforms.Research limitations/implications – Limitations of the study are due to the explorative and qualitative approach, and are to be complemented by other approaches. Policy makers and researchers can use the approach to analyse digital content platform developments and...

Cooperation models for mobile television in Europe

This article examines the emerging cooperation models between the various stakeholders piloting mobile broadcasting in Europe. It adopts a generic business model design framework to systematically compare recent trials of mobile broadcasting technologies. The article illustrates the cross-impact of cooperation agreements between the various stakeholders on their technological, service-related and financial design choices, and provides insights on a number of business models issues in the upcoming commercialization phase of mobile digital TV broadcasting in Europe.

Standardization and Business Models for Platform Competition: The Case of Mobile Television

This article explores the relationship between standards and business models, illustrating the conceptual linkage with reference to developments in the mobile communications industry. A case study of the DVB-H standard for mobile television shows that regardless of institutional orientation or process, the most important standardization strategy for equipment and service providers is to create platforms that are open to the development of complementary products and services while at the same time preserving the proprietary edge necessary to ensure lock-in effects. The case yields strong reasons to consider that standards now play a significant role in establishing business models for electronic service environments and that business modelling considerations now influence many of the technical decisions.

City of things: An integrated and multi-technology testbed for IoT smart city experiments

While smart cities have the potential to monitor and control the city in real-time through sensors and actuators, there is still an important road ahead to evolve from isolated smart city experiments to real large-scale deployments. Important research questions remain on how and which wireless technologies should be setup for connecting the city, how the data should be analysed and how the acceptance by users of applications can be assessed. In this paper we present the City of Things testbed, which is a smart city testbed located in the city of Antwerp, Belgium to address these questions. It allows the setup and validation of new smart city experiments both at a technology and user level. City of Things consists of a multi-wireless technology network infrastructure, the capacity to easily perform data experiments on top and a living lab approach to validate the experiments. In comparison to other smart city testbeds, City of Things consists of an integrated approach, allowing experimentation on three different layers: networks, data and living lab while supporting a wide range of wireless technologies. We give an overview of the City of Things architecture, explain how researchers can perform smart city experiments and illustrate this by a case study on air quality.

The business model impact of flexible spectrum management and cognitive networks

Purpose - This paper aims to give a short overview of European Union policy trends towards more flexible forms of spectrum management. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents a business modelling analysis, scenario construction, policy analysis and roadmapping. It argues that both flexible spectrum management and the concept of reconfigurability do not eliminate the need for a number of centralised controlling entities, and even introduce a number of new ones, performing regulatory, commercial and technical functions of a diverse nature. One of the most prominent control entities, the Cognitive Pilot Channel (CPC), is presented, and three different configurations of the CPC are outlined. Subsequently, the potential impact of different CPC configurations on business models for wireless services making use of such a channel is explored. Findings - The paper concludes that a hybrid model combining a meta-level CPC with operator-deployed channels might provide the best mix of technical and strategic control for operators, and value for users. Research limitations/implications - The study undertaken here isexploratory in nature since, for example, no exact estimations of cost and revenue, or harmonisation feasibility and roadmaps can be made at this time. Originality/value - The CPC is a recent and potentially crucial concept which is not yet standardised or implemented and for which no business modelling analysis has been performed yet.