MVNO Definition

Definition of MVNO
There is no common and agreed MVNO definition. The industry and some national regulatory authorities (NRA), have over the years adopted various local definitions for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), depending on which of the mobile network operator (MNO) facilities the MVNO relies on.

However, taking it word by word, provides a clearer understanding of the MVNO concept:

MVNO Definition

MOBILE – transportable, transferable, or movable. Relating to mobile cellular phones, handheld devices, and similar wireless technology.

VIRTUAL – almost, or nearly as described, but not completely.

NETWORK – connect as, or operate with a network.

OPERATOR – a person or company that engages in, or runs a business or enterprise.

Although there is no unified international standard on what precisely defines a MVNO, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), defined MVNO as:

“A mobile Virtual Network Operator (VNO) is an operator that offers mobile services but does not own its own radio frequency. Usually, this operator has its own network code and in many cases issues its own SIM card. The mobile VNO can be a mobile service provider or a value-added service provider. It is to be noted that there are differing views on how to define a mobile VNO.”
ITU
ITU: Regulatory Treatment of Mobile VNOs

Based on a combination of the definitions from various national regulatory authorities and the ITU, an updated MVNO definition, would look like this:

"A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), is an entity, that offers telecommunications services similar to a mobile network operator (MNO). However, an MVNO does not own radio frequency spectrum nor radio access network. Instead, the MVNO enters into a commercial agreement with a provider that has - and then provide its own service to its customers, under its own brand, value proposition and pricing."
Allan Rasmussen
Yozzo - MVNO Definition

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MVNO Definitions in Various Countries
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) • MVNO Definition

An MVNO is a wireless service provider that does not own spectrum or operate its own radio access network (RAN); instead, it relies on the spectrum and RAN of a wireless carrier and, in some cases, other facilities and/or services, to provide mobile wireless services to consumers. However, Canada has recently changed MVNO into their very own definition, where a MVNO has its own network (Does not make any sense)

Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority • MVNO Definition

MVNOs are one type of shared spectrum operator who do not possess any spectrum of their own but rather utilize the spectrum and several network components of another operator at appropriate commercial terms.

France – Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP) • MVNO Definition

MVNO’s are operators who do not have their own radio network, using that of one of the three mobile operators (Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom) by buying wholesale minutes of conversation to offer mobile communications services to their subscribers. Although they do not have their own radio network, MVNOs are operators, who control the design and launch of their commercial offers, and are fully responsible for the provision of mobile communications services to their customers.

Georgia Communications Commission (ComCom)

A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a mobile service provider that does not have its own network and infrastructure, and instead uses another operator’s network to provide services.

Ghana National Communications Authority • MVNO Definition

A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is an entity that does not have spectrum of its own for access services but is licensed to provide access services to its customers through an agreement with any licensed access provider (also called an MNO). The MVNO shall not possess spectrum for access services in any manner including licensing of spectrum.MVNOs shall be licensed as distinct service providers with their own licensing and regulatory framework.

Hong Kong – Communications Authority • MVNO Definition

A MVNO is an operator who provides a public radiocommunications service to customers through interconnection with, and access to, the radiocommunications infrastructure of a MNO licensed under a UCL authorised for provision of mobile services or a MCL and assigned with the radio spectrum through which the public radiocommunications services are provided.

Iceland Post and Telecom Administration (Fjarskiptastofa) • MVNO Definition

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) refers to a provider of mobile services which does not have its own spectrum resources and may or may not own mobile network infrastructure, depending on the particular business model pursued and the extent to which they rely on the facilities provided by the host mobile network.

According to the PTA’s definition in its Decision No 4/2007, in cases involving pure virtual network access, the virtual network operator controls the system that is necessary for interconnection and roaming in other operators’ networks but does not own a distribution system (i.e. the wireless part of the mobile phone network).

A Reseller typically has neither mobile spectrum nor network infrastructure, but has the direct customer relationship and may handle, inter alia, customer billing, marketing and sales of the service to end users under an independent brand name.

According to the PTA’s definition in its Decision No 4/2007, the reseller does not own any independent mobile network infrastructure and purchases virtually all support services at the wholesale level.

Icelandic telecommunications legislation is based to a large extent on EU legislation in the field due to Iceland’s obligations under the EEA Agreement.

Iran – The Communication Regulatory Authority (CRA) • MVNO Definition

Full MVNO: Virtual operator which could use mobile network capacity of host operators (MNOs) based on a wholesale agreement, to serve its subscribers with its own brand, marketing and sales model; in addition it shall establish its own mobile network infrastructure except the radio access network. This operator could have its own service platforms and billing and customer care.

Full MVNO shall establish its own Mobile Switching Centre (MSC), Home Location Register (HLR) data base, Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) and Service GPRS Support Node (SGSN).

Full MVNO is not allowed to establish its own radio access network with any licensed frequency spectrum and related transmission network.

Light MVNO: Virtual operator which could use mobile network capacity of host operators (MNOs) based on a wholesale agreement, to serve its subscribers with its own brand, marketing and sales model. This operator could have its own service platforms and billing and customer care.

Light MVNO is not allowed to have its own Mobile Switching Centre (MSC), Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) and Service GPRS Support Node (SGSN). Light MVNO is not allowed to establish its own radio access network with any licensed frequency spectrum and related transmission network.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) • MVNO Definition

A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (VNO) is an operator that offers mobile services but does not own its own radio frequency. Usually, this operator has its own network code and in many cases issues its own SIM card. The mobile VNO can be a mobile service provider or a value-added service provider. It is to be noted that there are differing views on how to define a mobile VNO.

Jordan – Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Jordan (TRC) • MVNO Definition

“Mobile Virtual Network Operator” (MVNO) means an operator which may own or control infrastructure and which is licensed to resell Public Mobile Wireless Services under its own name using the network, in full or in part, of licensed MNO(s).

“MVNO Services” means Public Mobile Wireless Services that are provided by an MVNO.

The MVNO Services could have, but are not limited to, the following characteristics:

Full responsibility of the MVNO for the relationship with its subscribers in accordance with terms and conditions of its License Agreement and any related Regulations.

Differentiated tariff schemes and business strategies of MVNO from those of its host MNO.

MNOs and MVNOs shall be free to negotiate the model that best fulfils their interests and business strategies. Consequently, more than one type of MVNO can be implemented in Jordan depending on how far an MVNO wishes to rely on the facilities of the host MNO, the adopted segmentation of the market, and the proposed product sets.

Kosovo – Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) • MVNO Definition

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is an operator with no possession of frequency spectrum, but has an agreement with conventional Mobile Network Operators (MNO). MVNOs purchase minutes from MNOs and then, they resell it to their consumers.

Kuwait – Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA)

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (“MVNO”) means a Licensed Service Provider that resells wholesale mobile network services which are leased/purchased from a Host FBP in order to provide retail services to the MVNO’s subscribers without spectrum assignment or radio access network.

Malta – Malta Communications Authority (MCA) • MVNO Definition

The MCA categorises three models for such undertakings as follows:

1. Service Provider (SP) or airtime reseller: The undertaking does not control any network element and makes use of the SIM cards of the MNO.

2. Enhanced Service Provider (ESP): The undertaking resells the services of the MNO and provides additional own services. They do not issue their own SIM cards, although they may re-brand the network operator’s SIM cards.

3. Full or Extended Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO): The undertaking operates a physical network infrastructure comprising of, at a minimum, a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC), a Home Location Register (HLR) and authentication centre (AUC). A full MVNO has its own International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) code, its own Network Code (MNC), issues its own SIM cards and offers its own.

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) • MVNO Definition

A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is an organization that does not have assignment of spectrum, but is capable of providing public cellular services to end users by accessing radio networks of one or more spectrum holders.

New Zealand – Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment • MVNO Definition

A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a mobile service provider that does not have its own network infrastructure or radio spectrum licenses, but rather uses an existing mobile network operator’s infrastructure and spectrum.

An MVNO provides services by purchasing a wholesale ‘full service’ mobile offering. The service provider then utilises an existing mobile network to deliver a full suite of mobile services to end-users, with their own branding, billing, and so on.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) • MVNO Definition

A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a telecommunications product and service operator that rides on top of the capacity of a fully Licenced Mobile Telecommunications Service provider or Mobile Network Operator (MNO).

The MVNO reaches a “Wholesale Agreement” or “Revenue Sharing Agreement” with the Telecommunications Company (Telco) through negotiations, and delivers its services after bulk purchasing resources from the Telco.

The defining difference between an MVNO and an MNO is the simple fact that an MVNO has no ownership whatsoever of spectrum elements, irrespective of its operational model.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority • MVNO Definition

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is an operator that does not own any spectrum; instead, MVNOs have commercial arrangements with conventional Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for provision of mobile communication services to their own customers.

Portugal – Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM) • MVNO Definition

On 09 February 2007, ANACOM approved the framework for the activity of MVNOs, which states as follows: “There are many economic operations which can be included under the designation MVNO, which however have as a common denominator the fact that these operators do not use rights of use for frequencies and are consequently not provided with their own radio access network infrastructures, being thus required to support themselves on radio means supplied by network operators who hold the respective rights of use”.

More recently, it was deemed that an MVNO is “a body that in its virtual mobile operation does not use rights of use for frequencies and consequently self-owned infrastructures associated to the radio access network, being supported on radio means provided by network operators who hold the respective rights of use. Different types of operations may be deemed to be MVNO operations, according to whether they use more or less self-owned infrastructures and systems”.

Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA)

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO): is a mobile wireless communications services provider that does not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers.

Saudi Arabia – The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) • MVNO Definition

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (“MVNO”) means a Licensed Service Provider that leases mobile network capacity from a Host Facilities Based Provider (FBP) and uses this capacity to offer its own mobile subscriptions and services to end-users without spectrum assignment or radio access network. An MVNO may lease transmission capacity and other related wholesale services from the Host FBP or from other Licensed Service Providers.

Singapore – Info-communications Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) • MVNO Definition

A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is an operator who provides mobile subscription and call services to its customers with no allocation of spectrum. The MVNO must use part of the networks of a mobile operator licensed by IDA as a Facilities-Based Operator (“FBO”) to originate and deliver its customers’ calls. The MVNO must pay such FBO for the use of the network and/or the essential radio segment of the network(s).

National Communications Authority Federal Republic of Somalia

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) means is an operator that offers mobile services but does not own network infrastructure, it can be a mobile service provider or a value-added service provider, providing services through an agreement with a mobile network operator to obtain access to network services.

Thailand – National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) • MVNO Definition

NBTC’s Notification on MVNO, B.E. 2556: “MVNO” means type I operator who is not permitted to use frequency, and has no right to manage all or part of frequency in mobile service provision according to the permitted scope.

US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) • MVNO Definition

Resellers offering service to consumers by purchasing airtime at wholesale rates from facilities-based providers and reselling it at retail prices.

UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) • MVNO Definition

MVNOs’ invest in some hardware allowing it to differentiate its offer to the customers and make it less dependent on the MNO’s capacity. The MVNO has full control over the customer who will have to sign a contract with the provider and issue their own SIM cards.

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)

A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a wireless communications services provider that does not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers.

An MVNO licence authorises the licensee to negotiate with and enter into a business agreement with a mobile network operator (MNO) licensee to obtain bulk access to network services and radio frequency spectrum at wholesale rates, then sets retail prices independently.

The MVNO licence allows the prospective licensee to negotiate for concession at any point in the MNO value chain, hence an MVNO may decide to use own customer service, billing support systems, marketing and sales personnel, or it could employ the services of a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE).

What a Mobile Virtual Network Operator isn't

A MVNO is not a “mobile operator light”. MNO and MVNO are two very different business models, cost structure and setups.

A MVNO is not an over-the-top (OTT) service, but have to adhere to industry standards and terms – in order to obtain a MVNO telecom license (or service provide license in some countries) from the local telecom regulator. It is an entity bound by local laws, including paying local tax and fees, as well as adhere to other local regulations.

What are sub-brands?

Sub-brands (also: secondary brands or flanker brands) are secondary brands, owned and controlled by the network operators. They are economically dependent on the network operators and try to differentiate offers and target groups. However, in a competitive context, sub-brands are not be viewed as relevant players because they have no independence from the network operators and are not in any price or innovation competition with the network operators.

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in various languages
  • Afrikaans: Mobiele virtuele netwerkoperateur
  • Armenian: Շարժական առցանցային ցանցի օպերատոր
  • Azerbaijani: Mobil virtual şəbəkə operatoru
  • Basque: Sare mugikor birtualaren operadorea
  • Belarusian: Мабільны віртуальны сеткавы аператар
  • Bengali: মোবাইল ভার্চুয়াল নেটওয়ার্ক অপারেটর
  • Bosnian: Mobilni virtualni mrežni operater
  • Bulgarian: Мобилен виртуален мрежов оператор
  • Catalan: Operador de xarxa mòbil virtual
  • Chinese (Simplified): 移动虚拟网络运营商
  • Chinese (Traditional): 移動虛擬網路運營商
  • Croatian: Mobilni virtualni mrežni operator
  • Czech: Mobilní virtuální síťový operátor
  • Danish: Mobil virtuel netværksoperatør
  • Dutch: Mobiele virtuele netwerkoperator
  • Estonian: Mobiilne virtuaalse võrgu operaator
  • Finnish: Mobiili virtuaalimoperaattori
  • French: Opérateur de réseau mobile virtuel
  • Galician: Operador de rede móbil virtual
  • Georgian: მობილური ვირტუალური ქსელის ოპერატორი
  • German: Mobiler virtueller Netzwerkbetreiber
  • Greek: Εικονικός φορέας κινητής τηλεφωνίας
  • Hebrew: מפעיל רשת סלולרית וירטואלית
  • Hindi: मोबाइल वर्चुअल नेटवर्क ऑपरेटर
  • Hungarian: Mobil virtuális hálózati szolgáltató
  • Icelandic: Farsímanlegur farsímanetkerfi
  • Indonesian: Operator jaringan seluler virtual
  • Italian: Operatore di rete mobile virtuale
  • Japanese: 仮想移動体通信事業者
  • Khmer: ប្រតិបត្តិករបណ្តាញនិម្មិតចល័ត
  • Korean: 가상 이동통신 사업자
  • Latvian: Mobilā virtuālā tīkla operators
  • Lithuanian: Mobilaus virtualaus tinklo operatorius
  • Malay: Operasi rangkaian maya mudah alih
  • Maltese: Operatur tan-netwerk mobbli virtwali
  • Norwegian: Mobil virtuell nettoperatør
  • Polish: Mobilny operator sieci wirtualnej
  • Portuguese: Operadora de rede móvel virtual
  • Romanian: Operator de rețea mobilă virtuală
  • Russian: Мобильный виртуальный сетевой оператор
  • Serbian: Мобилни виртуелни мрежни оператер
  • Slovak: Mobilný virtuálny sieťový operátor
  • Slovenian: Mobilni virtualni omrežni operater
  • Spanish: Operador móvil virtual (OMV)
  • Swedish: Mobil virtuell nätoperatör
  • Thai: ผู้ให้บริการเครือข่ายมือถือเสมือนจริง
  • Turkish: Sanal mobil ağ operatörü
  • Ukrainian: Мобільний віртуальний мережевий оператор
  • Vietnamese: Nhà khai thác mạng di động ảo
  • Welsh: Gweithredwr rhwydwaith mobill gwreiddiol

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Author: Allan Rasmussen
Managing director at Yozzo. Allan is a MVNA/MVNE/MVNO specialist with hands-on experience from more than 60 projects in both competitive and greenfield markets. His expertise includes business case development, execution, launch and growth strategies. Advisor and consultant to mobile network operators, MVNA, MVNE, MVNO, National Regulatory Authorities, Government Agencies, Broadcast Companies, TMT Industry Associations, Innovation and Investment Banks.

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