Grid Value Chains – What is a Grid Solution? - Grid and Cloud Computing - page 78

• Telco sub-cluster is always needed to complete the two previous clusters. The
telco cluster provides the connectivity and communication services among users
and utility and/or SaaS providers. It is formed by the providers of the commu-
nication equipment and communication services. This type of cluster can be led
by the network operator or network service provider.
• Some actors from Value Adding Service (VAS) and consultancy sub-cluster
almost always complete the other value networks. This sub-cluster contains a
wide range of actors that provide many different services to complete the solu-
tion, such as the integration into the products of different actors, and other
specialised services (e.g. backroom functions like billing and insurance).

Table 6.1: Grid market players
Cluster Actors

Utility Computing core Resource/Infrastructure provider is in charge of providing

the equipment (hardware, network and system resources) on
which the Grid implementations run.
Resource/Infrastructure operator gives access to the equip-
ment and manages its use.
Grid middleware provider delivers libraries and executable
codes that implement the Grid functionality (standards and
either lower, middle or upper software).

Application/SaaS provision Service Provider provides software that is usually added to

platforms or targeted to special niche markets. The service
provider offers services that run on the technology in ques-
tion. These service providers often have strong relation-
ships with application providers or with operators. The main
driver behind this business participant is that external service
providers can offer their services to operators and application
providers,
Software provider/Application provider is the first customer
of a specific platform. An ISV (Individual Software Vendor)
makes and sells software products that run on one or more
computer hardware or operating system platforms on top of
development packages to integrate software with the respective
technology
Application service provider (ASP) supplies computer-based
services to customers over a network. Software offered using
an ASP model is also sometimes called on-demand software.

Telco or connectivity Telco network (equipment) provider delivers equipment

(telco hardware and network resources) that build the telco
network.
Telco network operator implements a broadband commu-
nication network, and offers real time functionality and easy
access. It's an enabler of communications.
Telco network service provider sells bandwidth under
specific business criteria. Many times the network service
provider and the network operator is the same company.