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What is an MVNO, MVNE, MVNA? all Definitions Virtual and mobile A '''Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)''' is an organisation that provides a mobile (sometimes called wireless or cellular) service to its customers but does not have an allocation of spectrum (Ofcom definition). It is important to add that a) the organisation may own an allocation of spectrum in one region, which would make it a full blown MNO in that region, but operate as an MVNO in another region where it does not own spectrum (Telia, Jersey Telecom), b) that this spectrum can be CDMA, GSM, UMTS, etc. and not just GSM, and c) that spectrum refers to public allocation of spectrum, as recently some companies, incluing MVNOs like British Telecom, have allocations of mobile spectrum for use in private spaces, similar to hotspots, but are still MVNOs. The definition of an MVNO is widely documented, however, invariably these definitions focus on a network led perspective rather than a business or customer driven perspective. From a network led perspective, in its simplest term an MVNO is an entity providing a mobile service without owning its own mobile spectrum licence, and not necessarily owing all, or indeed any, of the elements of mobile network infrastructure. From a customer or business driven perspective an MVNO is an entity that the customer believes is its mobile operator, but does not necessarily have to own or manage all or part of the underlying physical network. To see how an MVNO looks from the all important, yet mostly neglected, customer perspective, and where it sits within the value chain for provision of mobile services see this graphic. originally posted by Christian Borrman 3:12am 01/09/05, last amended 10:24am 05/04/07
An MVNE is a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler. One of the first was Spinbox in Sweden, which actually had its own mobile network agreement with a right to resell its wholesale airtime to smaller MVNOs. The wider definition of an MVNE has evolved around the provision of the infrastructure for MVNOs, namely CRM and Billing with a network of partners for other services such as provisioning and credit checking. This wider definition of the MVNE has occurred due to the reluctance of MNOs in many regions to allow anyone the right to resell wholesale mobile network access. Ironically, these wider MVNEs will be best placed to offer full MVNE solutions as more and more MVNO opportunities are "let go" by operators individually, but whom collectively could be very valuable to the MNO. posted by Christian Borrman 20:43pm 10/11/06
what is an MVNA? An MVNA is a new term, coined only recently, around the irony mentioned in the last paragraph above; that the network operators are recognising MVNO opportunities individually, but it is only as a group that they may be enough in volume to attract the operator. It will be unclear whether the MVNA will become a front man for the MVNE or the MVNO or indeed both. The opportunity has mainly arisen around the fact that, when people first spoke to network operators about wholesale, their primary concern was that the first MVNOs would be; a) big enough to warrant the effort, but, on the other hand, b) not so successful that they could cause capacity issues. The latter meant that the first MVNOs would not have millions of customers, but tens or hundreds of thousands of customers. Today some MNOs claim they will not speak to potential MVNOs that cannot bring them millions of customers! Its a bit like saying you do not want to hear of an dot.com that cannot get millions of investment on a napkin - those days are long gone in the crowded, churn-ridden developed markets at least: hence the MVNA. posted by Christian Borrman 21:32pm 10/11/06
Related Articles: Glossary Glossary of terms used at Christian Borrman's website MVNO Definition on wikipedia ©Copyright 2001-2009 Christian Borrman, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction Prohibited |
