MVNO Directory

MVNO Directory (www.mvnodirectory.com)
Switzerland
Switzerland has an advanced mobile market and although not part of the EU, it has subscriber
penetration levels in line with the EU. The MVNO market is active in Switzerland.
United Kingdom
The UK is the birth place of Virgin Mobile UK, cited as being the first true MVNO and the first truly
successful MVNO.
The overall UK mobile market has reached saturation levels and is active in terms of the MVNO market.
Big losses from spectrum license auctions and a lack of consumer 3G take up have been cited as
reasons for MNOs working with MVNOs in the UK.
MVNOs in the UK are yet to target the niche market segments as seen in the USA; they have instead
concentrated on the discount / value market with price being their USP. The strong UK economy attracts,
and has attracted for a long time, immigration on a global scale but as yet the ethnic mobile market has
not been targeted. Neither has the grey market (seniors) or any true niche market. There is still room for
MVNO deployments, but not on a large generic market share basis.
Disney Mobile is to launch in the UK in 2006 which could lead to controversy. The traditional target
market for Disney products are children, which have been off limits in regards to marketing mobile
services in the UK. Disney is yet to comment on how it will or will not promote to such a young and off
limits market.
United States of America
The USA has more MVNOs than any other market. MVNOs within the USA have targeted ethnic
minorities, senior citizens, parents of early teens and pre-teens, sports enthusiasts, youth markets,
college students, convenience shoppers, professional drivers and so forth.
MVNEs have also entered the USA mobile market with companies such as telSPACE and Telispire
hosting many MVNO operations.
The large quantity of MVNOs is in line with the USA’s free market and capitalist nature.
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