| This thesis attempts to use the value network model as a research framework to analyze the market structure and the business strategy in the four mobile data markets: Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The research goal is to find out the significant differences among these four cases and how these differences influence market development from interview conducting and publicly available resources. More emphases are put on the mobile network operators (MNOs) than other players since they have the greatest influence on the market. MNOs' interaction with their partners, core capabilities, and value creation is the main study focus.; Several differences are revealed from the information collected: the overall model of the value network, mobile network operators' market share and business strategies, the relations between mobile network operators and other players, the value created in the market, the policy framework, and the cultural and social factors. With these differences, the four markets thus exhibit diverse market structures and performances. |
