Cost structure analysis and reference model for scaleable network services

The BOURBON (AC001) project seeks to address the issue of providing cost effective, scaleable access to advanced services for SMEs in the wider context of Europe and the information society. The project will ultimately demonstrate scaleable solutions that will allow SME based users access to services and applications in advanced communications. The SMEs involved in the project are in the toolmaking, publishing, software and graphics arts industries among others. SMEs are very sensitive to the costs of services offered. That was a result of the RACE BRITEUR project carried out in 1994-1995. Marketing costs of network services are usually higher to the SMEs than to residential users or big corporates. Therefore cost structure of the services should be studied and analyzed in order to evaluate, develop and offer scaleable network services to the SMEs. The main service selection criteria for SME should be benefits rather than price. The BOURBON project and especially testbeds of BOURBON in different countries offers a great opportunity to develop and study cost structure of scaleable SME services in Europe and produce cost analysis for the services. SMEs can benefit from the cost structure information from this project. Also, operators and service providers can develop services that fit to the SME needs economically and can produce services cost efficiently. This paper addresses the initial work performed concerning cost structures in the BOURBON project