PRESENCE SIGNALLING IN UNIFIED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS – A FRAMEWORK FOR CUSTOMISATION IN CONTEXT

In this paper we present Unified Communications (UC) as a new class of communication systems, marketed by vendors as a means for integrating communication media and creating presence awareness. Designed as complex infrastructures, UC systems enfold their full potential when being customised to a particular social context. In doing so, the technology allows creating contextspecific presence signalling solutions. The main contribution of this paper is a conceptualisation of the various design questions relevant in the customisation of UC presence signalling aspects. To this end, we present a seven-step process framework as guidance for implementers of UC infrastructures

SDN/NFV-enabled satellite communications networks: opportunities, scenarios and challenges

In the context of next generation 5G networks, the satellite industry is clearly committed to revisit and revamp the role of satellite communications. As major drivers in the evolution of (terrestrial) fixed and mobile networks, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) technologies are also being positioned as central technology enablers towards improved and more flexible integration of satellite and terrestrial segments, providing satellite network further service innovation and business agility by advanced network resources management techniques. Through the analysis of scenarios and use cases, this paper provides a description of the benefits that SDN/NFV technologies can bring into satellite communications towards 5G. Three scenarios are presented and analysed to delineate different potential improvement areas pursued through the introduction of SDN/NFV technologies in the satellite ground segment domain. Within each scenario, a number of use cases are developed to gain further insight into specific capabilities and to identify the technical challenges stemming from them.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Investigation of an intelligent personalised service recommendation system in an IMS based cellular mobile network

Success or failure of future information and communication services in general and mobile communications in particular is greatly dependent on the level of personalisations they can offer. While the provision of anytime, anywhere, anyhow services has been the focus of wireless telecommunications in recent years, personalisation however has gained more and more attention as the unique selling point of mobile devices. Smart phones should be intelligent enough to match user’s unique needs and preferences to provide a truly personalised service tailored for the individual user. In the first part of this thesis, the importance and role of personalisation in future mobile networks is studied. This is followed, by an agent based futuristic user scenario that addresses the provision of rich data services independent of location. Scenario analysis identifies the requirements and challenges to be solved for the realisation of a personalised service. An architecture based on IP Multimedia Subsystem is proposed for mobility and to provide service continuity whilst roaming between two different access standards. Another aspect of personalisation, which is user preference modelling, is investigated in the context of service selection in a multi 3rd party service provider environment. A model is proposed for the automatic acquisition of user preferences to assist in service selection decision-making. User preferences are modelled based on a two-level Bayesian Metanetwork. Personal agents incorporating the proposed model provide answers to preference related queries such as cost, QoS and service provider reputation. This allows users to have their preferences considered automatically

Enhanced connectivity in wireless mobile programmable networks

Mención Interancional en el título de doctorThe architecture of current operator infrastructures is being challenged by the non-stop growing demand of data hungry services appearing every day. While currently deployed operator networks have been able to cope with traffic demands so far, the architectures for the 5th generation of mobile networks (5G) are expected to support unprecedented traffic loads while decreasing costs associated with the network deployment and operations. Indeed, the forthcoming set of 5G standards will bring programmability and flexibility to levels never seen before. This has required introducing changes in the architecture of mobile networks, enabling different features such as the split of control and data planes, as required to support rapid programming of heterogeneous data planes. Network softwarisation is hence seen as a key enabler to cope with such network evolution, as it permits controlling all networking functions through (re)programming, thus providing higher flexibility to meet heterogeneous requirements while keeping deployment and operational costs low. A great diversity in terms of traffic patterns, multi-tenancy, heterogeneous and stringent traffic requirements is therefore expected in 5G networks. Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) have emerged as a basic tool-set for operators to manage their infrastructure with increased flexibility and reduced costs. As a result, new 5G services can now be envisioned and quickly programmed and provisioned in response to user and market necessities, imposing a paradigm shift in the services design. However, such flexibility requires the 5G transport network to undergo a profound transformation, evolving from a static connectivity substrate into a service-oriented infrastructure capable of accommodating the various 5G services, including Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC). Moreover, to achieve the desired flexibility and cost reduction, one promising approach is to leverage virtualisation technologies to dynamically host contents, services, and applications closer to the users so as to offload the core network and reduce the communication delay. This thesis tackles the above challengeswhicharedetailedinthefollowing. A common characteristic of the 5G servicesistheubiquityandthealmostpermanent connection that is required from the mobile network. This really imposes a challenge in thesignallingproceduresprovidedtogettrack of the users and to guarantee session continuity. The mobility management mechanisms will hence play a central role in the 5G networks because of the always-on connectivity demand. Distributed Mobility Management (DMM) helps going towards this direction, by flattening the network, hence improving its scalability,andenablinglocalaccesstotheInternet and other communication services, like mobile-edge clouds. Simultaneously, SDN opens up the possibility of running a multitude of intelligent and advanced applications for network optimisation purposes in a centralised network controller. The combination of DMM architectural principles with SDN management appears as a powerful tool for operators to cope with the management and data burden expected in 5G networks. To meet the future mobile user demand at a reduced cost, operators are also looking at solutions such as C-RAN and different functional splits to decrease the cost of deploying and maintaining cell sites. The increasing stress on mobile radio access performance in a context of declining revenues for operators is hence requiring the evolution of backhaul and fronthaul transport networks, which currently work decoupled. The heterogeneity of the nodes and transmisión technologies inter-connecting the fronthaul and backhaul segments makes the network quite complex, costly and inefficient to manage flexibly and dynamically. Indeed, the use of heterogeneous technologies forces operators to manage two physically separated networks, one for backhaul and one forfronthaul. In order to meet 5G requirements in a costeffective manner, a unified 5G transport network that unifies the data, control, and management planes is hence required. Such an integrated fronthaul/backhaul transport network, denoted as crosshaul, will hence carry both fronthaul and backhaul traffic operating over heterogeneous data plane technologies, which are software-controlled so as to adapt to the fluctuating capacity demand of the 5G air interfaces. Moreover, 5G transport networks will need to accommodate a wide spectrum of services on top of the same physical infrastructure. To that end, network slicing is seen as a suitable candidate for providing the necessary Quality of Service (QoS). Traffic differentiation is usually enforced at the border of the network in order to ensure a proper forwarding of the traffic according to its class through the backbone. With network slicing, the traffic may now traverse many slice edges where the traffic policy needs to be enforced, discriminated and ensured, according to the service and tenants needs. However, the very basic nature that makes this efficient management and operation possible in a flexible way – the logical centralisation – poses important challenges due to the lack of proper monitoring tools, suited for SDN-based architectures. In order to take timely and right decisions while operating a network, centralised intelligence applications need to be fed with a continuous stream of up-to-date network statistics. However, this is not feasible with current SDN solutions due to scalability and accuracy issues. Therefore, an adaptive telemetry system is required so as to support the diversity of 5G services and their stringent traffic requirements. The path towards 5G wireless networks alsopresentsacleartrendofcarryingoutcomputations close to end users. Indeed, pushing contents, applications, and network functios closer to end users is necessary to cope with thehugedatavolumeandlowlatencyrequired in future 5G networks. Edge and fog frameworks have emerged recently to address this challenge. Whilst the edge framework was more infrastructure-focused and more mobile operator-oriented, the fog was more pervasive and included any node (stationary or mobile), including terminal devices. By further utilising pervasive computational resources in proximity to users, edge and fog can be merged to construct a computing platform, which can also be used as a common stage for multiple radio access technologies (RATs) to share their information, hence opening a new dimension of multi-RAT integration.La arquitectura de las infraestructuras actuales de los operadores está siendo desafiada por la demanda creciente e incesante de servicios con un elevado consumo de datos que aparecen todos los días. Mientras que las redes de operadores implementadas actualmente han sido capaces de lidiar con las demandas de tráfico hasta ahora, se espera que las arquitecturas de la quinta generación de redes móviles (5G) soporten cargas de tráfico sin precedentes a la vez que disminuyen los costes asociados a la implementación y operaciones de la red. De hecho, el próximo conjunto de estándares 5G traerá la programabilidad y flexibilidad a niveles nunca antes vistos. Esto ha requerido la introducción de cambios en la arquitectura de las redes móviles, lo que permite diferentes funciones, como la división de los planos de control y de datos, según sea necesario para soportar una programación rápida de planos de datos heterogéneos. La softwarisación de red se considera una herramienta clave para hacer frente a dicha evolución de red, ya que proporciona la capacidad de controlar todas las funciones de red mediante (re)programación, proporcionando así una mayor flexibilidad para cumplir requisitos heterogéneos mientras se mantienen bajos los costes operativos y de implementación. Por lo tanto, se espera una gran diversidad en términos de patrones de tráfico, multi-tenancy, requisitos de tráfico heterogéneos y estrictos en las redes 5G. Software Defined Networking (SDN) y Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) se han convertido en un conjunto de herramientas básicas para que los operadores administren su infraestructura con mayor flexibilidad y menores costes. Como resultado, los nuevos servicios 5G ahora pueden planificarse, programarse y aprovisionarse rápidamente en respuesta a las necesidades de los usuarios y del mercado, imponiendo un cambio de paradigma en el diseño de los servicios. Sin embargo, dicha flexibilidad requiere que la red de transporte 5G experimente una transformación profunda, que evoluciona de un sustrato de conectividad estática a una infraestructura orientada a servicios capaz de acomodar los diversos servicios 5G, incluso Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC). Además, para lograr la flexibilidad y la reducción de costes deseadas, un enfoque prometedores aprovechar las tecnologías de virtualización para alojar dinámicamente los contenidos, servicios y aplicaciones más cerca de los usuarios para descargar la red central y reducir la latencia. Esta tesis aborda los desafíos anteriores que se detallan a continuación. Una característica común de los servicios 5G es la ubicuidad y la conexión casi permanente que se requiere para la red móvil. Esto impone un desafío en los procedimientos de señalización proporcionados para hacer un seguimiento de los usuarios y garantizar la continuidad de la sesión. Por lo tanto, los mecanismos de gestión de la movilidad desempeñarán un papel central en las redes 5G debido a la demanda de conectividad siempre activa. Distributed Mobility Management (DMM) ayuda a ir en esta dirección, al aplanar la red, lo que mejora su escalabilidad y permite el acceso local a Internet y a otros servicios de comunicaciones, como recursos en “nubes” situadas en el borde de la red móvil. Al mismo tiempo, SDN abre la posibilidad de ejecutar una multitud de aplicaciones inteligentes y avanzadas para optimizar la red en un controlador de red centralizado. La combinación de los principios arquitectónicos DMM con SDN aparece como una poderosa herramienta para que los operadores puedan hacer frente a la carga de administración y datos que se espera en las redes 5G. Para satisfacer la demanda futura de usuarios móviles a un coste reducido, los operadores también están buscando soluciones tales como C-RAN y diferentes divisiones funcionales para disminuir el coste de implementación y mantenimiento de emplazamientos celulares. El creciente estrés en el rendimiento del acceso a la radio móvil en un contexto de menores ingresos para los operadores requiere, por lo tanto, la evolución de las redes de transporte de backhaul y fronthaul, que actualmente funcionan disociadas. La heterogeneidad de los nodos y las tecnologías de transmisión que interconectan los segmentos de fronthaul y backhaul hacen que la red sea bastante compleja, costosa e ineficiente para gestionar de manera flexible y dinámica. De hecho, el uso de tecnologías heterogéneas obliga a los operadores a gestionar dos redes separadas físicamente, una para la red de backhaul y otra para el fronthaul. Para cumplir con los requisitos de 5G de manera rentable, se requiere una red de transporte única 5G que unifique los planos de control, datos y de gestión. Dicha red de transporte fronthaul/backhaul integrada, denominada “crosshaul”, transportará tráfico de fronthaul y backhaul operando sobre tecnologías heterogéneas de plano de datos, que están controladas por software para adaptarse a la demanda de capacidad fluctuante de las interfaces radio 5G. Además, las redes de transporte 5G necesitarán acomodar un amplio espectro de servicios sobre la misma infraestructura física y el network slicing se considera un candidato adecuado para proporcionar la calidad de servicio necesario. La diferenciación del tráfico generalmente se aplica en el borde de la red para garantizar un reenvío adecuado del tráfico según su clase a través de la red troncal. Con el networkslicing, el tráfico ahora puede atravesar muchos fronteras entre “network slices” donde la política de tráfico debe aplicarse, discriminarse y garantizarse, de acuerdo con las necesidades del servicio y de los usuarios. Sin embargo, el principio básico que hace posible esta gestión y operación eficientes de forma flexible – la centralización lógica – plantea importantes desafíos debido a la falta de herramientas de supervisión necesarias para las arquitecturas basadas en SDN. Para tomar decisiones oportunas y correctas mientras se opera una red, las aplicaciones de inteligencia centralizada necesitan alimentarse con un flujo continuo de estadísticas de red actualizadas. Sin embargo, esto no es factible con las soluciones SDN actuales debido a problemas de escalabilidad y falta de precisión. Por lo tanto, se requiere un sistema de telemetría adaptable para respaldar la diversidad de los servicios 5G y sus estrictos requisitos de tráfico. El camino hacia las redes inalámbricas 5G también presenta una tendencia clara de realizar acciones cerca de los usuarios finales. De hecho, acercar los contenidos, las aplicaciones y las funciones de red a los usuarios finales es necesario para hacer frente al enorme volumen de datos y la baja latencia requerida en las futuras redes 5G. Los paradigmas de “edge” y “fog” han surgido recientemente para abordar este desafío. Mientras que el edge está más centrado en la infraestructura y más orientado al operador móvil, el fog es más ubicuo e incluye cualquier nodo (fijo o móvil), incluidos los dispositivos finales. Al utilizar recursos de computación de propósito general en las proximidades de los usuarios, el edge y el fog pueden combinarse para construir una plataforma de computación, que también se puede utilizar para compartir información entre múltiples tecnologías de acceso radio (RAT) y, por lo tanto, abre una nueva dimensión de la integración multi-RAT.Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Ingeniería TelemáticaPresidente: Carla Fabiana Chiasserini.- Secretario: Vincenzo Mancuso.- Vocal: Diego Rafael López Garcí

Defining the effect of service quality measurement on service design procedures: mixed methods analysis of four performing arts festivals in Catalonia, Spain

Evidence suggests that customer satisfaction relates directly to engagement, loyalty, and wordof- mouth. Moreover, a growing body of literature in the cultural tourism sector recognises the importance of guaranteeing high service quality standards. Consequently, extensive research has been carried out on service quality measurement techniques, generating a prominent debate around the appropriateness of the tools used to gather and standardise scores. Most studies focused on implementing post-service surveys resulting in detailed statistical reports. However, such approaches have failed to critically analyse their outcomes by contrasting them with an insight into the perception that organisations’ managers and employees hold towards the features questioned to the audience. Few published studies have addressed service quality management through a mixed-methods methodology that include managers, employees, and customers. Furthermore, there has been no detailed investigation on how the customer satisfaction scores obtained are applied in strategic management decisions. To address such gap of knowledge, this investigation aimed to define a conceptual model that explains the relationship between service design, service delivery, and service quality measurement in the setting of cultural events. The central thesis of this paper is that customer satisfaction measurements should be used as input data frames for service design procedures. This study used a mixed-methods approach to analyse four performing arts festivals in Catalonia, Spain. First, the research implemented a qualitative analysis from a constructivist-interpretive logic, complementing a post-positivism stance. Data for this investigation were collected using semistructured interviews of 43 items. The study registered 24 professionals from 4 cultural organisations following a purposeful sampling. There were no significant differences in the notion of service delivery among employees. Moreover, they expressed similar apprehensions about communication, environment, effectiveness, and customisation features. Secondly, the study applied quantitative analysis to online surveys based on our proposed Performing Arts Festival Model. The questionnaires were composed of 34 items; in total, 208 festival attendants completed them successfully. Statistical tests revealed an influence of sociodemographic variables on attributes´ scores. Similarly, the tests correlated attributes´ scores and overall customer satisfaction. Finally, results displayed a correlation between overall customer satisfaction and loyalty. We could conclusively establish that service quality measures must be used as input data frames for service design procedures to improve customer experience in service delivery touchpoints. The main implication of these results in the field is that the event management process should be cyclical and requires to connect all stages i.e., pre-service, inservice, post-service, and improvement. Correspondingly, every stakeholder must be actively involved with a clearly defined role. Results from this research are limited to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in charge of cultural events celebrated annually. Future research in this area should employ digital tools that allow for a close observance and precise measurement of interactions during service delivery encounters.La satisfacció del consumidor està directament relacionada amb el seu compromís, la seva lleialtat i recomanació. Encara més, la literatura acadèmica sobre turisme cultural reconeix la importància de garantir alts estàndards en la qualitat del servei. En conseqüència, s'han dut a terme recerques extenses sobre les tècniques de mesura de la qualitat del servei, generant un debat prominent sobre la idoneïtat de les eines utilitzades per a recol·lectar i estandarditzar els indicadors. La major part d'estudis s'han enfocat a implementar enquestes posteriors al servei, generant informes estadístics detallats. No obstant això, aquests enfocaments han omès elaborar una anàlisi crítica dels resultats numèrics que els contrastés amb la percepció que tenen gestors i empleats sobre els temes preguntats als consumidors. Pocs estudis publicats han abordat la gestió de la qualitat del servei a través d'una metodologia mixta que inclogués gestors, empleats i consumidors. No hi ha hagut una recerca detallada sobre la manera en que els resultats de satisfacció del consumidor són utilitzats per prendre decisions de gestió estratègica. Per a abordar la bretxa de coneixement, la nostra recerca s'orienta a definir un model conceptual que expliqui la relació entre disseny de servei, prestació de servei i mesura de la qualitat del servei al voltant d'esdeveniments culturals. L'argument central d'aquest text és que les mesures de satisfacció dels consumidors han de ser utilitzades com un marc de dades d'entrada per als procediments de disseny de servei. Aquest estudi va fer servir un enfocament de mètodes mixtos per a analitzar quatre festivals d'arts escèniques a Catalunya, Espanya. Primer, la recerca va implementar una anàlisi qualitativa des d'una lògica constructivistainterpretativa, complementant una posició postpositivista. Les dades per a aquesta recerca van ser recol·lectades fent servir entrevistes semiestructurades amb 43 ítems. L'estudi va registrar 24 professionals de 4 organitzacions culturals seguint un mostreig intencional. No es van trobar diferències significatives en la noció de prestació de servei entre els empleats. A més, van expressar preocupacions similars sobre comunicació, entorn, efectivitat i funcions de personalització. En segon lloc, aquest estudi va aplicar una anàlisi quantitativa a enquestes digitals basades en la nostra proposta de Model per a Festivals d'Arts Escèniques. El qüestionari estava format per 34 ítems; en total, 208 assistents als festivals ho van respondre exitosament. Les proves estadístiques van revelar una influència de les variables sociodemogràfiques en les puntuacions dels atributs. De manera similar, les proves van correlacionar les puntuacions dels atributs amb la satisfacció general del client. Finalment, els resultats van presentar una correlació entre la satisfacció general del client i la seva lleialtat. Podem establir de manera concloent que les mesures de qualitat de servei han de ser utilitzades com un marc de dades d'entrada per als procediments de disseny de servei, millorant l'experiència del consumidor en els punts de contacte durant la prestació de servei. La implicació principal d'aquests resultats en el sector és que el procés de gestió d'esdeveniments necessita ser cíclic i requereix connectar totes les etapes i.e., pre-servei, en-servei, post-servei i millora. Corresponentment, cada agent interessat ha d'estar implicat activament i tenir un paper definit. Els resultats d'aquesta recerca estan limitats a Petites i Mitjanes Empreses (PIMEs) encarregades d'esdeveniments culturals celebrats anualment. Futures recerques en aquesta àrea haurien d'emprar eines digitals que permetin una observació detallada i una mesura precisa de les interaccions durant les trobades de prestació de servei

Evolution of NICNET as an incrementally intelligent network

The evolution of NICNET, the Computer-Communication network of the National Informatics Centre, is so oriented that integration and globalization are progessively implemented utilizing the latest cost-effective technologies available In the international market. With the choice of SSMA/CDMA based VSAT technology utilizing a C-band transponder, during the nucleating stage of NICNET, the top 500 cities and towns in India have been linked apart from more than 100 sites of mega projects and economically important locations. In the next step, high speed SCPC based VSATs with two-way as well as data broadcast capabilities utilizing a Ku-band transpoder is enabling the realisation of the NICNET InfoHighway linking metropolises and big cities as an overlay network over tile low speed NICNET. Dedicated high speed external gateways provide initial infrastructure for globalization of NICNET. In the next phase, it is planned to introduce software based information networking architecture on NICNET for which the concept of structure-function matrix based incrementally intelligent network design is proposed in this paper. As the demand for sophisticated services like CUGs, virtual private network Service, universal personal communications, mobile communication and multimedia services increase, NICNET will be required to respond with more flexible access, intelligent management and versatile charging regimes than what is possible currently, all within the frame-work of an open system architecture. Imperatives of globalization and service creation will be rendered incrementally intelligent utilising an approach based on intelligent hypermedia with imbedded expert system for realising intelligent navigation and integration. The same AI approach is determined to be advantageous for intelligent integration of traffic and facility with adaptive flexible routing. The design of NICNET as an intelligent global network providing a versatile local infrastructure with multiple gateway hooks to a global network employing low or medium earth orbiting satellite constellation, is identified as a desirable long term goal

A framework to provide charging for third party composite services

Includes synopsis.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-87).Over the past few years the trend in the telecommunications industry has been geared towards offering new and innovative services to end users. A decade ago network operators were content with offering simple services such as voice and text messaging. However, they began to notice that these services were generating lower revenues even while the number of subscribers increased. This was a direct result of the market saturation and network operators were forced to rapidly deploy services with minimum capital investment and while maximising revenue from service usage by end users. Network operators can achieve this by exposing the network to external content and service providers. They would create interfaces that would allow these 3rd party service and content providers to offer their applications and services to users. Composing and bundling of these services will essentially create new services for the user and achieve rapid deployment of enhanced services. The concept of offering a wide range of services that are coordinated in such a way that they deliver a unique experience has sparked interest and numerous research on Service Delivery Platforms (SDP). SDP‟s will enable network operators to be able to develop and offer a wide-variety service set. Given this interest on SDP standardisation bodies such as International Telecommunications Union – Telecommunications (ITU-T), Telecoms and Internet converged Servicers and Protocols for Advanced Networks) (TISPAN), 3rd Generations Partnership Project (3GPP) and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) are leading efforts into standardising functions and protocols to enhance service delivery by network operators. Obtaining revenue from these services requires effective accounting of service usage and requires mechanisms for billing and charging of these services. The IP Multimedia subsystem(IMS) is a Next Generation Network (NGN) architecture that provides a platform for which multimedia services can be developed and deployed by network operators. The IMS provides network operators, both fixed or mobile, with a control layer that allows them to offer services that will enable them to remain key role players within the industry. Achieving this in an environment where the network operator interacts directly with the 3rd party service providers may become complicated

Examining the influence of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer company identification and loyalty: a study of consumers’ perception in the context of the financial setting in the United Kingdom and Russia

The main aim of this study is to add to the current knowledge about the corporate website favourability within the discipline of marketing by developing a rigorous conceptual framework of factors that influence corporate website favourability, and to explore how corporate website favourability contributes to building corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty within the context of the financial setting in the UK and Russia. This research addresses two main questions: 1) what is the impact of the specific antecedents of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? 2) what are the main favourable influences of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? To achieve the goals of this research, the thesis adopts a mixed method research design - a predominantly quantitative approach, which is supported by insights from an exploratory phase that embodies in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The thesis draws on attribution, social identity and signalling theories. Based on the multi-disciplinary approach, this study resulted in the introduction of a validated conceptual framework that explains the phenomenon of corporate website favourability. The conceptual framework was supported and enhanced by a qualitative study (in-depth interviews and focus groups) that added three factors which influence corporate website favourability: customer service, website credibility and perceived corporate social responsibility. The conceptual framework was empirically evaluated through the insights from 555 questionnaires in the UK and 563 questionnaires in Russia. The sample of respondents permitted multivariate data analysis to be conducted in both contexts. The data from two contexts (consumers from HSBC in the UK and Sberbank in Russia) were analysed separately. This research employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA), cronbach’s alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to ensure that the scales developed and adapted were robust in terms of validity and reliability. Afterwards, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to conduct the hypothesis testing for each context. The model confirmed a good fit to the data, good convergent, discriminant and nomological validity and stable reliability in both contexts. The proposed conceptual model showed that 17 hypotheses in the UK and 14 hypotheses in Russia were supported out of the 19 hypotheses. Thus, overall, the research framework was generally supported in both contexts. The results indicated that navigation, information, security, availability, perceived corporate social responsibility, and perceived corporate culture influence corporate website favourability in the UK and Russia. Furthermore, the findings showed that the usability factor does not influence corporate website favourability in either country. Unexpectedly, the visual, customisation, website credibility, and customer service factors were rejected in Russia, but accepted in the UK. Additionally, corporate website favourability was found to have a direct positive affect on corporate image and satisfaction in both the UK and Russia. However, the relationship between attractiveness and corporate image was only supported in Russia, and not in the UK. In addition, in both contexts, corporate image was positively related to corporate reputation, corporate reputation was positively connected to consumer-company identification, and, finally, consumer-company identification was positively related to loyalty. This study is the first systematic research which has conceptualised and operationalised the notion of corporate website favourability, its antecedents and its consequences. It is anticipated to be of value in advancing existing knowledge by proposing a threefold theoretical contribution to the literature: 1) theoretical extension (level of conceptualisation and measurement); 2) assessment of theory; and 3) investigation of generalisation. Additionally, it is hoped that the findings of this research would make a substantial managerial contribution to the understanding of marketing and communication managers and website designers regarding the entire association among corporate website favourability, its antecedents and consequence. Furthermore, it is expected that this examination will enhance the knowledge of company decision-makers, communication professionals and website specialists about the building of a favourable corporate website in line with the corporate identity strategy of the company. Corporate website favourability should be adopted by companies, as part of the overall corporate identity management