ECOSYSTEM WORKING GROUP

Successful Ecosystem & Platform for Innovation
A major goal of the NGMN Alliance is to create a successful ecosystem for next generation mobile broadband networks and services. This is underpinned by the vision of the NGMN Alliance to establish an open platform for innovation in the field of mobile broadband. To accomplish this, the NGMN Ecosystem Working Group will consider end-to-end aspects relevant for developing innovative services as well as providing an optimal balance between affordable costs for end users and a viable and sustainable ecosystem. The challenge here is to ensure that adequate platforms, interfaces and protocols are provided which enable the creation of innovative services by as large a community as possible.

Maximising Benefits & Ensuring Sustainability
The NGMN Ecosystem Working Group focuses on aspects which are crucial for maximising the benefits and sustainability of the entire mobile broadband ecosystem. The Working Group attempts to ensure that network applications of the future are natively mobile and that the devices used for mobile broadband access are usable and competitively priced. In addition, the Working Group focuses on the creation of additional business models that allow effective partnerships and enable others (3rd parties) to innovate on top of the next generation mobile networks. It is the view of the Ecosystem Working Group that these new business models (partnering & enabling) should enable the ecosystem to be sustainable for many years to come.

Business Transformation
A key task of the Ecosystem Working Group is to list, highlight, and propose mechanisms that deal with the key issue of 'business transformation' resulting from the adoption of next generation mobile networks and services. This transformation requires a dramatic change of character for the mobile industry. For example it is envisioned that the mobile industry will need to:

• Move towards faster development cycles;
• Speed-up its investment cycles, with a reduction in investment needs & shorter lead times;
• Develop a more entrepreneurial spirit by encouraging risk taking to gain rewards;
• Increase its ability to forge temporary partnerships;
• Increase its numbers and types of innovators.

The Ecosystem Working Group aims to devise ways of enabling this transformation in the mobile industry.