Resources · Explainer
What is an MVNO?
A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) sells mobile service (SIMs, data, calls and texts) under its own brand, using another operator’s radio network instead of building one. Here is how MVNOs work, and the models you can choose from.
The MVNO · you
Your brand, customers and product
The MNO · the host network
Radio masts, spectrum and core
Sell mobile, without building a network
The network is the hard part
Mobile Network Operators (EE, Vodafone, Three and others) own the masts, spectrum and core network. Building that costs billions and takes years.
An MVNO rents it wholesale
Instead of building, an MVNO buys network capacity from a host operator under a wholesale agreement, and sells service under its own brand.
You own the business
You own the brand, the customer relationship and the plans. Depending on the model you choose, you also own more of the technology and the margin.
The models are a spectrum of how much you own
From renting almost everything to running almost everything. Further right means more control, more of the margin and your own data, in exchange for more to build and run.
Branded reseller
Fastest to launch
Light MVNO
Own the product
Full MVNO
Own everything but the radio
Four ways to be an MVNO
01 · Skinny MVNO
Branded reseller
The lightest model. You put your brand on a mobile service the host operator runs end to end.
You own
- Brand and marketing
- Sales and the customer relationship
The host runs
- Network and core
- Billing, SIMs and provisioning
- Often customer care too
Best for: Retailers, media and community brands that want mobile live quickly, with the least investment.
02 · Service provider
Light MVNO
You run the business and the product; the host provides the network. The most common model.
You own
- Brand, customers, plans and pricing
- Your own billing and BSS (CRM, self-service)
- Often your own SIMs and eSIMs
The host runs
- The radio network and core connectivity
Best for: Brands building a genuine, differentiated mobile product with control of pricing, data and experience.
03 · Own the core
Full MVNO
You run your own core network elements and buy only radio access from the host.
You own
- Your own core (subscriber database)
- Your own number and SIM ranges
- Billing, and often roaming and interconnect
The host runs
- Radio access only
Best for: Operators and large brands committed to mobile as a core business, wanting the best economics at scale.
04 · The enablers
MVNE / MVNA
The platform underneath. An MVNE provides the technology to run any model; an MVNA aggregates wholesale deals.
You own
- Your brand and product
The host runs
- MVNE: the platform, BSS and integrations
- MVNA: bundled deals across networks
Best for: Almost every MVNO runs on an MVNE. Mindszi is a modern MVNE and platform: start light, grow to full, no re-platforming.
The same stack, split differently
Every mobile service has the same layers. The model you choose decides which of them you own and which the host runs.
| Layer | Branded reseller | Light MVNO | Full MVNO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand & customers | You | You | You |
| Plans & pricing | Host | You | You |
| Billing & BSS | Host | You | You |
| SIM / eSIM | Host | Shared | You |
| Subscriber core | Host | Host | You |
| Roaming & interconnect | Host | Host | Shared |
| Radio network | Host | Host | Host |
On Mindszi, the layers you own are one platform, so you can move right along this table without starting over.
Launch light. Evolve without re-platforming.
Mindszi is built by the team that has launched every kind of MVNO, from branded resellers to full operators. We built them all, so we built the platform to let you start wherever makes sense today and move along the spectrum as you grow. The same platform carries you the whole way, so evolving is a switch you flip, not a project you re-run.
01
Launch
Go live as a branded reseller or light MVNO in weeks. Your brand, plans and storefront, on the network we connect for you.
Brand · storefront · plans
02
Own more
Take on your own pricing, billing, SIMs and customer data as you grow. The same platform, with more of the product in your hands.
Billing · SIMs · data
03
Go full
Add your own core and roaming when the economics are worth it, and run as a full MVNO. No migration, no rebuild.
Own core · roaming
One Mindszi platform, the whole way
Billing, storefronts, connectivity and agents stay put at every stage
One platform for any MVNO model
Start as a light MVNO and grow into a full MVNO on the same platform, with billing, storefronts, agents and multi-carrier connectivity built in and no re-platforming. Book a demo and we will map the right model to your business.