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[[File:MTN Network towers 02.jpg|thumb|An MVNO does not own its own network infrastructure, and simply uses an MNO's infrastructure.]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
A '''mobile virtual network operator''' ('''MVNO''') is a wireless communications services provider that does not own the [[Base station subsystem|wireless network infrastructure]] over which it provides services to its customers. An MVNO enters into a business agreement with a [[mobile network operator]] (MNO) to obtain bulk access to network services at wholesale rates, then sets retail prices independently.<ref>{{cite web|author=Allan Rasmussen |url=http://www.yozzo.com/mvno-academy/mvno-definition/ |title=MVNO Definition |publisher=Yozzo.com |date=2007-02-09 |access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref> An MVNO may use its own customer service, billing support systems, marketing, and sales personnel, or it could employ the services of a [[mobile virtual network enabler]] (MVNE).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yozzo.com/mvno-academy/mobile-virtual-network-enabler-mvne/ |title=Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) |date=20 August 2022 |publisher=Yozzo
==History==
MVNO agreements with network operators date back to the 1990s, when the European and Australian telecom markets saw market liberalization, new regulatory frameworks, better [[2G]] network technology, and a subsequent jump in wireless subscriber numbers.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Van Thanh|first=Do|date=2001|title=Guest Editorial|url=https://www.telenor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/T01_4.pdf|journal=Telektronikk}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{cite web|url=https://www.itu.int/osg/spu/ni/3G/casestudies/GSM-FINAL.pdf |title=GSM Paper |access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref> Though the new [[2G]] networks more efficiently managed the limited [[frequency band]]s allocated to wireless service, new mobile entrants were still limited by their ability to access frequency bands in a restricted [[Radio spectrum|spectrum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.fe.up.pt/~mleitao/CMOV/Tecnico/GSM_Sempere.html |title=An overview of the GSM system by Javier Gozalvez Sempere |publisher=Web.fe.up.pt |access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref>
With European markets newly open to competition and new technology enabling better service and cheaper handsets, there was a massive surge in demand for cellular phones.<ref name=":02" /> In the midst of this swell, Sense Communications fought for access to
Despite Sense's initial failure, the regulator in Denmark saw the promise in the MVNO model as a cost-effective route for telecom companies to enter the market and in May 2000, legislation passed that required network operators with significant market power to open up access to their infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itu.int/osg/spu/ni/competition/casestudies/denmark/Denmark%20Case%20Study%201101.pdf |title=
▲With European markets newly open to competition and new technology enabling better service and cheaper handsets, there was a massive surge in demand for cellular phones.<ref name=":02" /> In the midst of this swell, Sense Communications fought for access to mobile network operator (MNO) spectrum in [[Scandinavia]] in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=1349075&fileOId=2433717|title=Mobile Virtual Network Operators in Europe. Strategic and Legal Analysis|last=Sasinovskaya|first=Olga}}</ref> Sense was able to establish an MVNO agreement with [[Sonera]] in Finland, but it failed to persuade MNOs in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.<ref>{{cite web|author=Allan T. Rasmussen |url=http://www.yozzo.com/mvno-academy/the-history-of-mvno/ |title=The History of MVNO |date=31 July 2016 |publisher=Yozzo.com |access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref> Sense then appealed to EU regulators, citing provisions that required certain MNOs to allow new entrants interconnection. While Sense's claim was denied, in November 1999, the company signed a service provider agreement with Telia/Telenor Mobile for GSM network capacity access, allowing Sense to offer services to its own customers in Sweden and Norway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telenor.com/media/press-releases/1999/sense-communications-buys-gsm-network-capacity-from-teliatelenor-mobile/|title=Sense Communications buys GSM network capacity from Telia/Telenor Mobile|date=23 November 1999|publisher= Telenor|access-date=23 July 2016}}</ref>
▲Despite Sense's initial failure, the regulator in Denmark saw the promise in the MVNO model as a cost-effective route for telecom companies to enter the market and in May 2000, legislation passed that required network operators with significant market power to open up access to their infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itu.int/osg/spu/ni/competition/casestudies/denmark/Denmark%20Case%20Study%201101.pdf |title=COMPETITION POLICY IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS: THE CASE OF DENMARK |publisher=International Telecommunication Union |date=2002-11-01 |access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref> By August of that same year, the MNO [[SONOFON]] had solidified the first viable MVNO agreement with [[Tele2]]. This agreement provided Tele2 with access to SONOFON's network for both mobile and roaming services, the latter of which had been requested by (and denied to) Sense Communications. With the new regulations in place, MVNOs in Scandinavia eventually grew to a [[market share]] of above 10%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.analysysmason.com/About-Us/News/Newsletter/Is-there-a-glass-ceiling-for-MVNOs/ |title=Analysys Mason |publisher=Analysys Mason |date=2011-06-28 |access-date=2017-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015003019/http://www.analysysmason.com/About-Us/News/Newsletter/Is-there-a-glass-ceiling-for-MVNOs/ |archive-date=15 October 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
By 2008, US wireless subscribers had a choice between around 40 MVNOs. According to the FCC, approximately 7% of all U.S. mobile subscribers were served by resellers, including MVNOs, and analysts found that the 15.1 million wireless subscribers served by resellers by the end of 2006 had increased by 1.6 million over the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-28A1.pdf |title=Annual Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions with Respect to Commercial Mobile Services |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |date=2008-02-01 |access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref>
==Types==
MVNOs are distinguished by their commitment to owning and managing the operational components of the MVNO business model,<ref>{{cite web|url=
* Access to basic network infrastructure, like base stations, transceivers, home ___location registers, and switching centres.
* Service packaging, pricing, and billing systems, including value-added services like voicemail and missed call notifications.
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=== Branded reseller ===
Sometimes referred to as a "Skinny MVNO" or Reseller. A Branded Reseller, will either operate under its own brand or co-branded with the mobile network operator (MNO). In most cases, the branded reseller brings a brand, distribution channels and/or a large existing customer base to the table, from which it can leverage its sales. It is often the easiest MVNO type for a host network operator (HNO) to accept, as the HNO stays in control over most of the processes. The Reseller MVNO, possesses no core elements and only holds the means that ensure the contact and relationship with the customers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yozzo.com/mvno-knowledge-hub/reseller-mvno-branded-reseller/ |title=Reseller MVNO (Branded Reseller) |date=31 August 2025 |publisher=Yozzo |author=Allan Rasmussen |access-date=2025-08-31}}</ref>
===
Sometimes referred to as a "Light MVNO" or "Service provider MVNO". The
===
Sometimes referred to as a "Enhanced Service Provider". The Medium MVNO, operates under its own brand with its own SIM cards, marketing, sales, distribution, and can in some countries obtain its own numbering range/mobile network code. The Medium MVNO has the ability to set tariff bundles and packages independently from the retail prices set by the host network operator (MNO). It can add its own value added services (VAS) platform to upsell or differentiate from the competition, on apps, data, and content services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mvno.services/mvno-academy/mvno-types-and-operational-models/#What_is_a_Medium_MVNO |title=What is a Medium MVNO? |date=31 October 2024 |publisher=MVNO Services |author=Allan Rasmussen |access-date=2014-12-04}}</ref>
=== Full
The Full MVNO is responsible for, and has full control over all the services and products it offers in the market, as well as flexibility in designing and deploying new services, either to end-users or for Internet of Things (IoT) / Machine-to-machine (M2M). It operates technically, in a similar way to a mobile network operator, but without spectrum and radio access network (RAN), which it still leases access to from a mobile network operator (MNO).
The Full MVNO has a switching and transmission infrastructure allowing the management of its traffic. It can administer numbering resources, customer service, VAS, Roaming, SIM and device management and other services required for the provision of mobile services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mvno.services/mvno-academy/mvno-types-and-operational-models/#What_is_a_Full_MVNO |title=What is a Full MVNO? |date=31 October 2024 |publisher=MVNO Services |author=Allan Rasmussen |access-date=2014-12-04}}</ref>
While Light MVNOs are often chosen for their speed to market and lower infrastructure requirements, making them attractive to brands with established customer bases but limited telecom expertise, Full MVNOs invest in their own core systems, numbering resources, and subscriber management platforms. This allows them greater independence in designing tariffs, deploying services, and differentiating their offerings, but comes with higher costs and longer setup times. The choice between Light and Full models is therefore shaped by trade-offs between agility and control, with each suited to different business strategies and levels of technical investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lifecycle-software.com/resources/light-and-full-mvno-what-is-the-difference |title=Light and Full MVNO. What is the difference? |date=27 August 2025 |publisher=Lifecycle Software |access-date=2025-08-27}}</ref>
==Around the world==
As of June 2014, 943 MVNOs and 255 MNO sub-brands were active worldwide. This represents a total of almost 1,200 mobile service providers worldwide hosted by MNOs, up from 1,036 in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research
According to [[GSMA]] Intelligence, between June 2010 and June 2015, the number of MVNOs worldwide increased by 70 percent, reaching 1,017 in June 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiercewireless.com/europe/story/report-number-mvnos-exceeds-1000-globally/2015-09-02 |title=Report: Number of MVNOs exceeds 1,000 globally |publisher=FierceWireless |access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref>
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MVNOs target both the consumer and enterprise markets. The majority of MVNOs are consumer-focused and most have a focus on price as their selling point; on average, customers of major carriers spend about 3.4 times as much on their service as MVNO customers.<ref name="FCC-11-103">{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-103A1.pdf|title=2011 Annual Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions with Respect to Mobile Wireless, including Commercial Mobile Services, WT Docket No. 10-133, Table 4 (Page 35): (1% of revenue per 1% of customers vs. 0.95% of revenue per 3.37% of customers) Service Provider Share of Subscribers and Revenues (Year-End 2009) based on John C. Hodulik, et al., U.S. Wireless 411, Version 37.0, UBS, UBS Investment Research, 7 September 2010 (U.S. Wireless 411 2Q10), based in turn on Company SEC 10-K filings|date=2011-06-27|access-date=2012-05-09}}</ref>
At the end of year 2022, there were 1,986 active MVNOs globally, more than double the amount of traditional telecom network operators. Europe lead in terms of most active MVNOs in operation with 1,012, representing half of the total global MVNO market. It is followed by Americas with 379 MVNOs, Asia with 322, International with 131, Oceania with 84, Africa with 54 and Middle East with 5.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yozzo.com/industry-news/mvna-mvne-mvno/at-the-end-of-2022-there-were-1986-active-mvnos-globally/ |title=At the end of 2022 there were 1986 active MVNOs globally |date=17 February 2023 |publisher=Yozzo
In 2025, the MVNO market is set for steady growth over the next few years, with the number of subscriptions worldwide increasing at a CAGR of 3.6% between 2023 and 2029, according to forecasts by Omdia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://omdia.tech.informa.com/pr/2025/feb/mvno-market-on-the-rise-as-global-subscriptions-to-grow-3point6-percent-cagr-by-2029 |title=Omdia: MVNO market on the rise as global subscriptions to grow 3.6% CAGR by 2029 |date=5 February 2025 |publisher=OMDIA |access-date=2025-08-27}}</ref>
=== Multinational MVNOs ===
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===United States===
{{Main article|
The three US national carriers have partial or full ownership of several large MVNO brands, such as [[Cricket Wireless]] (AT&T), [[TracFone Wireless]] (Verizon) and [[Metro by T-Mobile]] (T-Mobile).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375644,00.asp|title=The Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans You've Never Heard Of|newspaper=PCMAG|access-date=2016-10-18}}</ref>
===United Kingdom===
{{see also|List_of_United_Kingdom_mobile_virtual_network_operators|l1=List of United Kingdom mobile virtual network operators}}The UK had 77 active MVNOs as of December 2018. The MVNOs combined market share was 15.9% of the total UK mobile market, representing 15.3 million connections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yozzo.com/industry-news/mvna-mvne-mvno/the-state-of-mvno-in-2018-more-than-1300-active-mvnos-in-80-countries/ |title=The state of MVNO in 2018 – More than 1,300 active MVNOs in 80 countries |date=25 December 2018 |publisher=Yozzo
=== Ireland ===
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=== Vietnam ===
As of May 2024, Vietnam had five MVNO providers using the networks of the two mobile network operators VinaPhone and MobiFone. The five MVNOs are: iTel, Wintel, myLocal, VNSKY and FPT SIM.
==Regulation==
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==See also==
{{commons category|Mobile virtual network operators}}
* [[Generic Access Network]]
* [[Competitive local exchange carrier]]
* [[List of mobile network operators of Europe|List of Europe MNOs]]
* [[List of Turkey mobile virtual network operators|List of Turkey MVNO]]
* [[List of United Kingdom mobile virtual network operators|List of United Kingdom MVNOs]]
* [[List of United States mobile virtual network operators|List of United States MVNOs]]
* [[Virtual Network Operator]]
==References==
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