Freemium Internet: Next Generation Business Model to connect next billion

Steve Esselaar, Steve Song and Christoph Stork

28th European Regional ITS Conference, Passau 2017 from International Telecommunications Society (ITS)

Abstract: This paper analyses a business model for providing free basic-rate Internet to everyone with a data capable phone, living in mobile coverage areas. The model is called Freemium Internet. The term "freemium" refers to a well-known business model for digital services, where free services or applications provide basic functions and more advanced functions are available by paying a fee. We examine the impact of applying the freemium business model to the provision of mobile Internet access and discuss net neutrality issues, mobile operator strategies, benefits for consumers, and the potential impact on government e-service programmes. The paper further investigates policy options and regulatory incentives to facilitate the adoption of Freemium Internet.

Keywords: Universal Service; Next Billion; business models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ict, nep-pay and nep-reg
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:itse17:169459

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