Should subscription-revenue internet content providers adopt sponsored data plans by mobile telecom carriers in duopoly market?

作者：

Highlights：

• This study investigates novel mobile online-content service involving ICPs & MTCs.

• A game-theoretic model is developed to analyze subscription-revenue ICPs' strategy.

• Two-dimensional effect of sponsored data plan (SDPs) is defined and verified.

• When one ICP adopts SDPs, the competing ICP can become better off or worse off.

• Both ICPs may get to the "win-win" equilibrium, or a prisoner's dilemma game.

• Only when the effect of SPDs is strong enough will an MTC provide SPDs.

摘要

•This study investigates novel mobile online-content service involving ICPs & MTCs.•A game-theoretic model is developed to analyze subscription-revenue ICPs' strategy.•Two-dimensional effect of sponsored data plan (SDPs) is defined and verified.•When one ICP adopts SDPs, the competing ICP can become better off or worse off.•Both ICPs may get to the "win-win" equilibrium, or a prisoner's dilemma game.•Only when the effect of SPDs is strong enough will an MTC provide SPDs.

论文关键词：Sponsored data plan,Effect of sponsored data plan,Subscription-revenue model,Internet access fee,Average consumer surplus,Duopoly market

论文评审过程：Received 15 July 2020, Revised 20 August 2021, Accepted 10 November 2021, Available online 20 November 2021, Version of Record 25 November 2021.

论文官网地址：https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2021.101106