Designing business models for customer value in heterogeneous networks

Technological research conducted to fulfil the vision of seamless services provided across heterogeneous networks has been intense. Business model research on heterogeneous networks is scarce and focuses seamless services across existing access network in frastructures, such as GPRS, UMTS and Wi-Fi. As the number of wireless networks are expected to increase and convergence of fixed and wireless access networks will continue, the business models required to develop, provide and collect revenue from service s provided by these networks will become more complex. The main objective of this project is to develop, validate and disseminate business model designs that will capture the potential business values of technological innovations in heterogeneous network infrastructures. Three research issues will be addressed to ensure that the business model designs developed in this project will create value if adopted by industry players. First, empirical relationships between structural conditions, such as regulat ory regimes, and business model options will be analysed. Second, relationships between business model options, resource alignments and attributes of networked services will be studied. Third, the relationships between value driving attributes, resource a lignments and customer value will be explained. All relationships are investigated using an empirically validated structure-conduct- performance framework. Six service analyses will be conducted to ensure external validity of results and sustainability of business model design recommendations. The results from this project may be used by operators, service providers and regulatory authorities to understand the requirements for successful adoption of future services in heterogeneous networks. It will be of particular relevance to service providers offering cross media services or service providers offering their services internationally, under different regulatory regimes and market conditions.