@article {3090, title = {Broadband Municipal Optical Networks in Greece: A Suitable Business Model}, journal = {Journal of Telematics and Informatics, Elsevier Science}, year = {2009}, pages = { 391 - 409}, abstract = {This paper proposes a business model for the optimal exploitation of the currently developing broadband metropolitan area networks in Greece. Having recorded and examined relevant international practices, we describe in detail the way that these networks should be managed, operated, maintained and expanded. Taking into consideration that these infrastructures will widely alter the broadband map of Greece, that Greece has currently one of the lowest broadband penetration percentages in Europe and that the proper exploitation strategy of the networks to be deployed could boost the demand for broadband connections and applications, the application of the optimal business model appears to be of vital importance. We describe the proposed business model in detail, including ways for expanding the broadband infrastructures, as well as tackling of viability issues regarding the authority responsible for managing the broadband metropolitan networks.}, author = {Christos Bouras and Apostolos Gkamas and Thrasivoulos Tsiatsos and J Papagiannopoulos and George Theofilopoulos} } @inbook {3127, title = {Metropolitan Broadband Networks: Design and implementation aspects and business models}, booktitle = {Global Diffusion of Broadband Data Transmission: Factors Affecting the Adoption, Usage and Economics of Broadband}, volume = {1}, year = {2008}, pages = { 196 - 210}, publisher = {IDEA Group Publishing}, organization = {IDEA Group Publishing}, chapter = {XIII}, abstract = {

This chapter presents the design principles that cover the implementation of broadband infrastructure in the region of Western Greece, by examining all the necessary parameters that arise while implementing such a critical developmental project. The broadband infrastructure that is deployed is either based on optical fiber (on big municipalities) or on wireless systems (OFDM based and WiFi cells). Furthermore, we present as two case studies, all issues of the designing of the Metropolitan Area Network of Patras, the third biggest city of Greece and the Wireless Access Network of Messatida. The major target of the broadband networks is to interconnect the buildings of the public sector in the city and also deploy infrastructure (fibers or wireless systems) that will create conditions of competition in providing both access and content services in advantage of the end consumer. The usage of the broadband infrastructure by service providers will be based on the open availability of the infrastructure in a cost effective way. Finally, we present the main characteristics of a proposed business plan that ensures financial viability of the broadband infrastructure and guarantees the administration, growth, and exploitation of infrastructure.

}, author = {Christos Bouras and Dimitris Primpas and Antonios Alexiou and J Papagiannopoulos} } @article {3083, title = {The status of broadband in western Greece: a study on the supply and the demand of Broadband Services for e-Government promotion}, journal = {International Journal of Electronic Governance (IJEG), Interscience Publishers, Vol. 1, No. 3}, year = {2008}, pages = { 326 - 344}, abstract = {Fast and reliable access technology is necessary for developing efficient and effective e-Government services. The existence of a direct relationship between the presence of a broadband network and the availability of e-Government services has frequently been debated in the literature. This paper presents the results of a study conducted by the RACTI (Research Academic Computer Technology Institute), which investigates the current status of broadband with regards to the demand for and the supply of broadband services and infrastructures that will support these services, in the Western Greece Region. Broadband promotes open effective governance and improved services to citizens while creating a new economy based on knowledge. Broadband development has a significant impact on e-Government support and diffusion. }, author = {Christos Bouras and J Papagiannopoulos and S Katsikas and S Gritzalis} } @conference {2897, title = {Business Models for Broadband Municipal Optical Networks: A proposed model for the Greek case}, booktitle = {The Twelfth IEEE Symposium on Computers and Communications, Aveiro, Portugal}, year = {2007}, month = {1 - 4 July}, pages = { 727 - 732}, abstract = {This paper proposes an optimal business model for the successful operation of the currently developing broadband metropolitan area networks in Greece. Having recorded and examined relevant international practices, we describe in detail the way that these networks should be managed, operated, maintained and expanded. Taking into consideration that these infrastructures will alter the broadband map of Greece widely, that Greece currently has one of the lowest broadband penetration percentages in Europe and that the proper exploitation of the networks to be deployed could boost the demand for broadband connections and applications, the proposition of the optimal business model appears to be of vital importance. We present the proposed optimal business model in detail including information regarding network management and network expansion of the broadband metropolitan networks and viability issues regarding the authority which will manage the broadband metropolitan networks.}, author = {Christos Bouras and Apostolos Gkamas and Thrasivoulos Tsiatsos and J Papagiannopoulos and George Theofilopoulos} } @conference {2870, title = {The Broadband Status in the Region of Western Greece: Overview and Recommendations}, booktitle = {Broadband Europe 2005, Bordeaux, France}, year = {2005}, month = {12 - 14 December}, abstract = {This paper presents a study conducted in the Region of Western Greece, in order to propose an overall planning for the development of broadband infrastructure in the Region of Western Greece. The current broadband status in the region is being described, while the results of a survey on broadband usage and demand are being presented. The paper proposes some Recommendations that should be adopted in the region of Western Greece in order for the appropriate broadband infrastructures to be developed and adopted so as to contribute to economic growth and to tackle any possible cases of {\textquotedblleft}digital gap{\textquotedblright} between the citizens of our country.}, author = {Christos Bouras and Vaggelis Kapoulas and Thrasivoulos Tsiatsos and Antonios Alexiou and Vaggelis Igglesis and Mixalis Paraskevas and J Papagiannopoulos} } @conference {2864, title = {Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure in the Region of Western Greece}, booktitle = {2nd IEEE/Create - net International Workshop on Deployment Models and First/Last Mile Networking, Boston, MA, USA}, year = {2005}, month = {7 October}, pages = { 588 - 593}, abstract = {This paper presents the work that is taking place in the Region of Western Greece in order to develop state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure. The current status of broadband infrastructure in the region is being analyzed and the main principles on which the deployment of the networks will be based on is being described, by presenting the Metropolitan Area Networks and the Wireless access networks that will be developed. Two case studies of such municipal networks are also presented in this paper.}, author = {Christos Bouras and Vaggelis Kapoulas and Antonios Alexiou and Vaggelis Igglesis and Mixalis Paraskevas and I Scopoulis and J Papagiannopoulos} }