Mobile network operator

Last updated

A mobile network operator (MNO), also known as a mobile network provider, mobile network carrier, mobile telco, wireless service provider, wireless carrier, wireless operator, wireless telco, or cellular company, [lower-alpha 1] is a telecommunications provider of services that sells, delivers and maintains mobile telephony services to an end user.

Contents

Overview

A key defining characteristic of a mobile network operator is that it must own or control access to a radio spectrum license from a regulatory or government entity, and also that it must own or control the elements of the cellular network infrastructure necessary to provide services to subscribers over the licensed radio spectrum. [1] [2] In addition the operator would also contain other elements like the back haul infrastructure and provisioning computer systems. [3]

A mobile network operator typically also has the necessary provisioning, billing, and customer care computer systems, and the marketing, customer care, and engineering organizations needed to sell, deliver, and bill for services. However, a mobile network operator can outsource any of these systems or functions and still be considered a mobile network operator. [3] [4]

In addition to obtaining revenue by offering retail services under its own brand, a mobile network operator may also sell access to network services at wholesale rates to mobile virtual network operators (MVNO). [2]

List of operators

See also

Notes

  1. Often shortened to simply carrier (especially in American English), operator, provider, "telco", or network.

Related Research Articles

Telecommunications in Georgia include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

The primary regulator of telecommunications in Malaysia is the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It issues licenses under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Postal Services Act 2012 and the Digital Signature Act 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telecommunications in Singapore</span>

The telecommunication infrastructure of Singapore spans the entire city-state. Its development level is high, with close accessibility to the infrastructure from nearly all inhabited parts of the island and for all of the population, with exceptions. Today, the country is considered an international telecommunications hub, an achievement that was driven by Singapore's view that high-quality telecommunications is one of the critical factors that support its economic growth.

In telecommunications, a customer-premises equipment or customer-provided equipment (CPE) is any terminal and associated equipment located at a subscriber's premises and connected with a carrier's telecommunication circuit at the demarcation point ("demarc"). The demarc is a point established in a building or complex to separate customer equipment from the equipment located in either the distribution infrastructure or central office of the communications service provider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile virtual network operator</span> Wireless telecom service reseller

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 enters into a business agreement with a mobile network operator to obtain bulk access to network services at wholesale rates, then sets retail prices independently. 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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triple play (telecommunications)</span> Bundling of television, internet, and telephone service

In the field of telecommunications, the concept of triple play service refers to the provision of three essential services — high-speed broadband Internet access, television, and latency-sensitive telephone services — all delivered over a single broadband connection. This approach emphasizes the convergence of multiple services by a single supplier, aiming to enhance user convenience and streamline service delivery.

A mobile phone operator, wireless provider, or carrier is a mobile telecommunications company that provides wireless Internet GSM services for mobile device users. The operator gives a SIM card to the customer who inserts it into the mobile device to gain access to the service.

Qwest Wireless LLC was a cellular phone service owned by Qwest Communications and offered in the United States. Qwest Wireless was a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that operated on Sprint's CDMA network. While Qwest originally owned its own wireless network, it discontinued that network in 2004 as part of the move to become an MVNO. The network elements were sold to other carriers after shutdown. Qwest was the only Baby Bell that offered its wireless service as an MVNO; since the wireless company used Sprint's network, most of their phones were Sprint phones with the Qwest name on them. Their phones included models from Sanyo, Samsung, Nokia, UT Starcom, HTC, and Motorola. Qwest Wireless ended the year 2007 with 824,000 wireless subscribers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femtocell</span> Small, low-power cellular base station

In telecommunications, a femtocell is a small, low-power cellular base station, typically designed for use in a home or small business. A broader term which is more widespread in the industry is small cell, with femtocell as a subset. It typically connects to the service provider's network via the Internet through a wired broadband link ; current designs typically support four to eight simultaneously active mobile phones in a residential setting depending on version number and femtocell hardware, and eight to sixteen mobile phones in enterprise settings. A femtocell allows service providers to extend service coverage indoors or at the cell edge, especially where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable. Although much attention is focused on WCDMA, the concept is applicable to all standards, including GSM, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX and LTE solutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transatel</span> French telecom corporation

Transatel is a telecom corporation headquartered in Paris, La Défense, and led by the founders Jacques Bonifay (CEO) and Bertrand Salomon. NTT Communications took a majority stake in the company on 28 February 2019, transferred to NTT Ltd. on 1 July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telecom North America</span>

Telecom North America (Telna) was founded in March 2002 by Jean Gottschalk and Herve Andrieu. Telna partnered with 3U Telecom AG, a German long-distance telephone provider, to launch its US subsidiary, incorporated in Nevada, on March 27, 2002. After a change of management in 3U Telecom AG in 2004, it sold its international subsidiaries to Elephant Talk Communications while keeping its Austrian and US subsidiary. In 2008, 3U Telecom Inc bought out 3U Telecom AG in a transaction that was finalized in December 2008. 3U Telecom Inc changed its name to Telecom North America Inc in January 2009. At the end of 2008, bought out the majority shareholder 3U Telecom AG and renamed the company Telecom North America Inc. (Telna).

"Network-as-a-Service" (NaaS) is often used alongside other marketing terms such as cloud computing. It is related to terms like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Software-Defined Networking (SDN).

A mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) is a company that provides network infrastructure and related services, such as business support systems, administration, and operations support systems to a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). This enables MVNOs to offer services to their own customers with their own brands. The MVNE does not have a relationship with consumers, but rather is a provider of network enablement platforms and services.

MyRepublic Group Limited is a Singaporean communications service provider. Launched in 2011, MyRepublic currently operates in Singapore and licenses its platform to operators in Brunei and Indonesia.

Rami Levy Communications is a mobile virtual network operator in Israel, using the network from Pelephone. Founded in 2011, it is owned by Rami Levy Hashikma Marketing. The prefix assigned to Rami Levy Communications is 0556.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visible by Verizon</span> American wireless carrier

Visible Service LLC, doing business as Visible by Verizon, is an American all-digital prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and brand wholly-owned by Verizon. Launched in 2018, the carrier offers services on the Verizon network, with all services delivered via e-commerce and mobile apps, and no brick and mortar retail presence. Visible competes against Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and Boost Mobile in the major carrier prepaid segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ting Mobile</span> Wireless service company

Ting Mobile is an American mobile virtual network operator owned by Boost Mobile. Originally established in February 2012 by Tucows, Ting provides cellular service in the United States using the T-Mobile and Verizon networks. The service is sold off-contract with billing that adjusts the cost of service based on actual customer usage.

References

  1. Ivo Vegter (4 July 2018). "Why a wireless open-access network won't work". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 2022-04-10.
  2. 1 2 lizs (2024-03-04). "MNO or MVNO: Which is the Right Choice for Your IoT Project?". Eseye. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  3. 1 2 Mazalov, Vladimir; Lukyanenko, Andrey; Gurtov, Andrei (30 October 2019). "Location–Price Competition in Mobile Operator Market". International Game Theory Review. 21 (3): 2. doi:10.1142/S0219198918500159. S2CID   158860971 . Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. "MVNO | Glossary". GMS Worldwide. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2020.