Ambient networking and related business concepts as support for regulatory initiatives and competition

Abstract

It is envisaged that future internetworking technologies would continue to further the openness of interfaces and open up new business opportunities for new business players. An increased cooperation between different types of providers will result in improved service availability for end-users and in a potentially larger market for operators. This paper investigates in what way regulatory support is needed to support new business models and value chains. It also discusses whether the deployment of ambient networking concepts is supported by current regulation and if features of Ambient Networks can be identified among emerging networking and business concepts. Our view is that Ambient Networks concepts like network composition, dynamic roaming and new interfaces will enable the de-coupling of business roles of the traditionally vertically integrated value chain. This will enable increased cooperation both between operators as well as between operators and end-users. Other benefits of this kind of cooperation are that the risk associated with investments in own networks can be reduced and that barriers for new market entrants are lowered, hence this will support an increased competition.