数据上限在两部网络最优定价中的作用
The Role of Data Cap in Optimal Two-part Network Pricing
摘要：
互联网服务传统上按统一费率定价;然而，许多互联网服务提供商最近转向两部分费率，即实行数据上限，以限制大量用户的数据需求。虽然两部分关税通常可以增加互联网服务提供商的收入，并得到了美国联邦通信委员会的支持，但数据上限的作用及其最佳定价结构还没有得到很好的理解。在这篇文章中，我们研究了数据上限的最优两部分定价方案的优惠服务市场的影响。我们的模型用户的需求和偏好定价和拥挤的替代品，并得出市场均衡下的服务提供商的市场份额和拥挤。基于均衡模型，我们描述了两部分结构的收入和福利最优定价方案。我们的研究结果表明：1）数据上限为ISP提供了一种从固定费率过渡到现收现付类型计划的机制，2）ISP的收入和福利目标都将推动最优定价向基于使用的计划，并减少数据上限，3）福利最优资费包括比收入最优资费更低的费用，这表明监管机构可能希望促进基于使用的定价，但对一次性和每单位费用进行监管。
英文摘要：
Internet services are traditionally priced at flat rates; however, many Internet service providers (ISPs) have recently shifted towards two-part tariffs where a data cap is imposed to restrain data demand from heavy users. Although the two-part tariff could generally increase the revenue for ISPs and has been supported by the US FCC, the role of data cap and its optimal pricing structures are not well understood. In this article, we study the impact of data cap on the optimal two-part pricing schemes for congestion-prone service markets. We model users' demand and preferences over pricing and congestion alternatives and derive the market share and congestion of service providers under a market equilibrium. Based on the equilibrium model, we characterize the two-part structures of the revenue- and welfare-optimal pricing schemes. Our results reveal that 1) the data cap provides a mechanism for ISPs to transition from the flat-rate to pay-as-you-go type of schemes, 2) both the revenue and welfare objectives of the ISP will drive the optimal pricing towards usage-based schemes with diminishing data caps, and 3) the welfare-optimal tariff comprises lower fees than the revenue-optimal counterpart, suggesting that regulators might want to promote usage-based pricing but regulate the lump-sum and per-unit fees.
机构、总结、中文摘要均由AI分析而来，可能存在错误，请以论文正文为准。
