Test and Experimentation Platforms for Broadband Innovation: Examining European Practice

Abstract

Various public and private stakeholders are creating, supporting and using environments for joint testing and experimenting of broadband innovations. This paper proposes a conceptual framework of test and experimentation platforms (TEPs), that differentiates six types of TEPs, based on a.o. technological maturity, openness and focus; and consists of testbeds, field trials, prototyping platforms, living labs, market pilots and societal pilots.

The major rationales to establish TEPs are identified and the a priori requirements for TEPs are deduced. These are then matched with the actual characteristics of TEPs as they are being set up and used in three European benchmark countries today. In general, it can be said that while specific context and country influences are obvious, the TEPs that were examined exhibit a remarkable commonality in the sense that for all types of TEPs, we have found ample instances of valuable, open initiatives aimed at joint innovation, and mostly involving (business or individual) users.

Keywords: Test and Experimentation Platforms, Open innovation, Living Labs