Business Models for 5G Experimentation as a Service: 5G Testbeds and Beyond

The availability of Experimentation as a Service (EaaS) has been crucial in 5G research/market implementation, so far substantially subsidized by EU funding. In this paper, we introduce and evaluate novel business models for 5G EaaS, drawing on insights from the pre-commercial 5G-VINNI experimentation platform. Relying on the concept of value network, we develop a value network for 5G services with relevant business roles and relationships. On the basis of this, we present the different actor roles involved in the provisioning of 5G EaaS, and we investigate alternative business models the actors can combine their offerings. Our analysis has shown that when a 5G vertical market (e.g., e-health, automotive, etc.) is immature, an aggressive business model is more attractive for Experimental Infrastructure Operators, while in the opposite case a conservative strategy is preferable. Finally, our results provide useful insights for the potential business models of a future commercial 5G/6G EaaS market.