List of United Kingdom mobile virtual network operators

Last updated

This is a list of notable mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in the United Kingdom, which lease wireless telephone and data spectrum from the four major carriers EE, O2, Three and Vodafone for resale.

Contents

Active operators

BrandHost networkWireless technology Voice over LTE WiFi calling eSIM MVNE MVNO typeNotes
2G3G4G5G
1pMobile EE YesYesYesYesYesYesNoDirect with MNO PAYG
Asda Mobile Vodafone YesYesYesYesYesYes [1] NoDirect with MNO PAYG
BT Mobile EE YesYesYesYesYesYesPartial [note 1] Direct with MNO PAYM Not taking new customers
CMLink EE YesYesYesYesNoNo? [note 2] Transatel PAYG
Ecotalk EE YesYesYesYes [2] NoNoNo Transatel PAYM
Extreme Connect O2 YesYesYesNo??No
FreedomPop Three NoYesYes?YesYesNo PAYM/PAYG
giffgaff O2 YesYesYesYes [3] NoNoNoDirect with MNO PAYG MVNO indirectly run by host network.
iD Mobile Three NoYesYesYesYesYesNoDirect with MNO PAYM/PAYG
KC Mobile O2 YesYesYes?NoNoNo
Lebara Vodafone YesYesYesYesYesYesNo
Lycamobile EE since 27 June 2023 [4] (Previously O2)YesYesYesYesNoNoYes
Now Mobile EE YesYesYes?NoNoNo PAYM/PAYG
Plusnet Mobile EE YesYesYesNoNoNoNo Transatel [5] PAYM Not accepting new customers from April 2023, [6] will close later in 2023. [7]
RWG Mobile [8] [note 3] EE YesYesYesYesNoNoNo PAYM/PAYG Initially for Welsh market, now nationwide
Sky Mobile O2 YesYesYesYesYesYesNoDirect with MNO PAYM
SMARTY Three NoYesYesYesYesYesNoMVNO run by host network.
Spusu UK EE YesYesYesYesYesNoYes PAYM
Superdrug Mobile Three NoYesYesNoNoNoNoDirect with MNO PAYM MVNO run by host network (Three)'s parent company Hutchinson.
Talkmobile Vodafone YesYesYesYesYesYesNo PAYM
Tesco Mobile O2 YesYesYesYesYesYesNoDirect with MNO PAYM/PAYG
The Phone Co-op EE YesYesYesNoNoNoNo Transatel [5] PAYM/PAYG
Truphone EE since autumn 2022 [9] (Previously O2)YesYesYesNoNoNoYes [10]
Utility Warehouse / Telecom Plus EE YesYesYesNoYesYesNo
VOXI Vodafone YesYesYesYesYesYesNoDirect with MNO PAYM MVNO run by host network, directly linked in with host's core systems.
  1. ↑ BT Business customers only. Not available to consumers. "What is an eSIM? | How to set up eSIM? | BT Business". btbusiness.custhelp.com. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. ↑ Supposedly has support, but unable to find references to eSIM on their UK site.
  3. ↑ Iwithacircle Limited trading as RWG Mobile, since the insolvency of Red White & Green Communications Limited in 2021.

Defunct, merged and acquired operators

BrandHost networkDefunct dateNotes
AfriMobile Three 13 October 2020Dissolved 13 October 2020
Andrews & Arnold Three 30 April 2013 [11] Ceased operations when their upstream partner "pulled the plug". [12] Later relaunched on O2.
Blyk Orange 26 August 2009 [13] Ceased operations.
Delight Mobile EE 30 November 2017 [14] Existing customers were consolidated in the sister brand, Vectone Mobile.
Dialog Vizz Vodafone 1 January 2015Ceased operations.
Dalya Mobile ??Liquidated.
Easymobile EE (T-Mobile)13 December 2006 [15] Ceased operations.
Econet Mobile EE 20 July 2015 [16] Ceased UK operations.
Family Mobile EE 31 August 2015 [17] Ceased operations.
Fresh Mobile EE (T-Mobile)19 March 2010 [18] Ceased operations. Existing customers were encouraged to move to the sister network, Talkmobile.
GT Mobile O2 July 2016Existing customers were consolidated in the sister brand, Lycamobile. [19]
Kontakt Mobile Vodafone 15 December 2016 [20] Ceased operations.
LIFE Mobile EE 29 November 2016 [21] Acquired by Plusnet.
Mobile by Sainsbury's Vodafone 15 January 2016 [22] Ceased operations.
Our Telecom EE 16 August 2016 [23] Dissolved.
Ovivo Mobile Vodafone 19 March 2014 [24] Ceased operations.
PG Mobile Three 2016 [25] Ceased operations.
Post Office Mobile EE 8 August 2016 [26] [27] Ceased operations.
Priyo Mobile EE 5 November 2013 [28] Ceased operations.
RSPCA Mobile EE October 2014Ceased operations. Operated as a white-label under Shebang. [29]
Shebang Three 2015 [30] Acquired by PG Mobile.
Simple Call Mobile EE 31 October 2014 [31] Ceased operations.
Stan Mobile Three ?Ceased operations.
Talktalk Mobile Vodafone 2018 [32] Ceased operations.
The People's Operator (TPO Mobile) Three 26 February 2019 [33] Entered administration. Customers were encouraged to move to SMARTY. [33]
U2i Mobile EE 11 July 2017 [34] Ceased operations.
Virgin Mobile O2 31 August 2023 [35] Stopped accepting new customers August 2023. All customers moved to O2 by December 2023. [36]
Vizz Africa Vodafone ?Ceased operations.
White Mobile EE 5 October 2022Customers told to move to Moblox, which entered administration in April 2023. [37] [38]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Introducing Wi-Fi Calling and 4G Calling for Asda mobile customers".
  2. ↑ "4G/5G explained". ecotalk. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "giffgaff - 5G". giffgaff.
  4. ↑ "Lyca Mobile MVNO partnership with BT Wholesale". Lyca Mobile MVNO partnership with BT Wholesale. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Transatel and BT renew award-winning partnership to enable 5G for UK MVNOs". Transatel. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Jackson, Mark (29 March 2023). "Broadband ISP Plusnet Stops Selling Own Brand UK Mobile Plans". ISPreview. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "BT will shut down Plusnet Mobile to consolidate the EE brand". MobileNews. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "FAQs". RWG Mobile. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  9. ↑ Jackson, Mark (1 February 2022). "Mobile Operator Truphone Signs UK MVNO Deal with BT for EE UPDATE". ISPreview UK. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "iPhone and Android Dual SIM plans". www3.truphone.com. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Andrews & Arnold Ltd - Telephony". Andrews & Arnold . Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Andrews & Arnold Ltd - Telephony - SIP2SIM". Andrews & Arnold . Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "A fond farewell to our UK members". Blyk . 27 July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Delight Mobile - Home". Delight Mobile. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Easymobile to close down service". BBC News . 13 November 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Pay as you go tariffs, Mobile SIM tariffs with econet mobile". 1 August 2015. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  17. ↑ Kubiak, Paloma (7 July 2015). "Family Mobile to close, but unused credit will be refunded". Money Saving Expert . Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  18. ↑ "Carphone Warehouse apologises for Fresh confusion". Mobile Today. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  19. ↑ "Lycamobile a Global MVNO will withdraw GT Mobile from all its markets, which includes Australia, The Netherlands and the UK, and will now focus on its own main brand". MVNO Dynamics. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  20. ↑ "Kontakt Mobile - Home". Kontakt Mobile. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  21. ↑ "What's happening?". LIFE Mobile. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Mobile by Sainsbury's - Mobile Phones, PAYG and SIM Only Deals". Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "OUR TELECOM LIMITED - Overview (Free company information from Companies House)".
  24. ↑ Razavi, Lauren (24 March 2014). "Ovivo Mobile goes dark, leaving thousands without connectivity". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  25. ↑ Boland, Hannah (7 July 2016). "Personal Group To Wind Down PG Mobile Business By End Of Year". Morningstar. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  26. ↑ "Post Office Mobile | Order Free SIM". Post Office . Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  27. ↑ Majithia, Kavit (19 May 2016). "UK's Post Office to can MVNO venture". Mobile World Live. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  28. ↑ "PRIYO COMMUNICATIONS (UK) LIMITED - Overview". Companies House . Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  29. ↑ "NEW BR/MVNO – RSPCA MOBILE, in cooperation with Shebang". MVNO Dynamics. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  30. ↑ Pearce, James (28 April 2015). "Personal Group to axe Shebang brand after MVNO buy - but Iain Humphrey stays - Mobile News Online | Mobile News Online". Mobile News. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  31. ↑ "simplecall mobile". Simple Call Mobile. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  32. ↑ Rodgers, Tom. "TalkTalk Mobile killed off, customers offered O2 switch". SimOnlyDeals.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  33. 1 2 "The People's Operator". 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  34. ↑ "U2I NETWORK LTD". Companies House . Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  35. ↑ "Virgin Mobile | Phone & SIM Deals - See What You Can Do" . Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "Virgin Mobile's Move to the O2 Network | Virgin Mobile". Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  37. ↑ "White Mobile Is Evolving". White Mobile. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  38. ↑ "Moblox Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
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