MVNO Market Development

SUMMARY

A number of key mobile markets across the world have been liberalised to allow new MVNO entrants. In March 2005, EasyMobile, an MVNO offering discount mobile services, was launched in the UK. The launch, backed by experienced MVNO operator TDC Denmark, sparked a minor 'war by press release' as rival UK MVNOs Virgin Mobile and Fresh/Carphone Warehouse adjusted their prices and rubbished EasyMobile's roster of hidden charges. With retail commentators speculating that there will be a slew of other new MVNOs across Europe before Christmas 2005, MVNOs are becoming increasingly significant to operators, regulators, and of course customers.

This report introduces Prodata's MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) topic area, which joins our successful 'Maximising Wireless Profit' Program in 2005. European telecoms regulators were interviewed to discover their attitudes towards MVNOs and operators' relations with them, summaries of which are presented in section 2. A table listing over 90 MVNOs operating in major mobile markets worldwide is presented in section 3, and also lists some of the service providers (SPs).

This report will be updated over time, and supplemented by three more reports focussed on specific aspects of MVNO market development:

• MVNO Business Models and New Entrant Strategies
• Tier 3/4 Operator MVNO Market Development Strategies
• Incumbent Operator MVNO Market Development Strategies

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1 Overview
• 2 Regulators' Views of MVNOs and Market Entry
  • 2.1 Denmark
  • 2.2 Belgium
  • 2.3 Finland
  • 2.4 France
  • 2.5 Germany
  • 2.6 Italy
  • 2.7 Norway
  • 2.8 The Netherlands
  • 2.9 United Kingdom
  • 2.10 Ireland
• 3 MVNOs: Current & Planned
• 4 Summary