MVNE, MVNA and MVNO explained in a simple way
Let’s start with the Telecom Operators.
Telecom operators, also known as telecommunications service providers, are companies that provide a range of communication services to customers, such as telephone, internet, and television. These services are typically provided over a network of infrastructure, including telephone lines, fiber optic cables, and satellite systems.
There are several types of telecom operators, including:
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- Incumbent operators:
These are the traditional providers of telecom services, often with a long history in the industry and a large customer base. They may be state-owned or privately owned. - Alternative operators:
These are newer entrants into the telecom industry, often offering more specialized or innovative services. They may be smaller in size compared to incumbent operators. - Mobile network operators (MNOs):
These operators provide mobile communication services, such as voice and data, over a network of cell towers. - Internet service providers (ISPs):
These operators provide internet access to customers over a variety of technologies, including broadband, DSL, and dial-up. - Cable television operators:
These operators provide television programming to customers via a network of coaxial cables.
- Incumbent operators:
There are several types of telecom operators that can act as a network provider for MVNE, MVNA, MVNOs, including:
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- Incumbent operators: These are the traditional providers of telecom services, often with a long history in the industry and a large customer base. They may be state-owned or privately owned.
- Alternative operators: These are newer entrants into the telecom industry, often offering more specialized or innovative services. They may be smaller in size compared to incumbent operators.
- Mobile network operators (MNOs): These operators own and operate their own mobile networks, providing voice and data services to customers. They can also lease capacity to MVNOs.
Overall, MVNOs rely on MNOs and/or MVNEs to provide the necessary infrastructure and support for their operations. They also rely on the relationships between these different types of telecom operators are an important aspect of the telecom industry.
The differences between MVNE, MVNA and the types of MVNOs.
- What is the difference between MVNA and MVNE?
- What is the difference between MVNE and MVNO?
- What is the difference between thick MVNO and full MVNO?
- What is the difference between full MVNO and light MVNO?
- What is the difference between light MVNO and thin MVNO?
1. What is the difference between MVNA and MVNE?
MVNA stands for Mobile Virtual Network Aggregator, while MVNE stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. Both companies offer mobile telecommunications services without owning their own radio network /wireless towers infrastructure or cables.
An MVNA is a company that provides mobile network services by aggregating the capacity and coverage of multiple network operators (MNO). An MVNA does not have its own wireless infrastructure. It relies on the infrastructure of other mobile network operators to provide service to its customers. An MVNA acts as a middleman between network operators and customers, offering a range of mobile services such as voice, text, and data. This means they will have a wholesale agreement with one or more MNOs and resell this to MVNOs
An MVNE, on the other hand, is a company that provides mobile network services by leasing capacity and coverage from other mobile network operators (MNO). Like an MVNA, an MVNE does not own its own wireless infrastructure. They are responsible for managing and operating its own virtual network. An MVNE can offer a range of mobile services to its customers, including voice, text, and data. An MVNE normally does not have a wholesale agreement which means you need to take care of this.
In summary, the main difference between an MVNA and an MVNE is that an MVNA aggregates the capacity and coverage of multiple network operators. While an MVNE leases capacity and coverage from other network operators and operates its own virtual network. It can be an advantage to make use of an MVNA. Since they mostly get better wholesale prices because they can combine the volume of all MVNOs. Of course keep in mind that the MVNA will take some of the margin of this.
2. What is the difference between MVNE and MVNO?
MVNE stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator, while MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. Both companies offer mobile telecommunications services without owning their own physical infrastructure, such as wireless towers or cables.
An MVNE is a company that provides mobile network services by leasing capacity and coverage from other mobile network operators. As mentioned MVNE does not have its own wireless infrastructure, but it is responsible for managing and operating its own virtual network. An MVNE can offer a range of mobile services to its customers the MVNO(s), including voice, text, and data. The MVNE will usually host multiple MVNOs and can be seen as B2B. This means they do not offer services to consumers.
An MVNO (also called VNO), is a company that provides mobile network services by leasing capacity and coverage from a mobile network operator and reselling those services to its own customers. Like an MVNE, an MVNO does not own its own wireless infrastructure. However it relies on the infrastructure of another network operator to provide service to its customers. An MVNO typically makes use of an MVNE or MVNA solution provider. It offers a range of mobile services, including voice, text, and data to consumers (B2C).
In summary, the main difference between an MVNE and an MVNO is that an MVNE is responsible for managing and operating its own virtual network. While an MVNO makes us of another network operator or an MVNE to provide service and simply resells those services to its own customers. Small MVNOs typically make use of an MVNE to lower the setup/startup costs.
3. What is the difference between thick MVNO and full MVNO?
A thick MVNO is a type of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that has a less control over its own operations compared to a full MVNO. A thick MVNO typically has its own customer care, billing, other back-office systems, and sales/marketing teams. A thick MVNO will have some core network elements. This will increase their control over the products and services it offers to customers.
A full MVNO is a type of MVNO that has complete control over its own operations and customer experience. A full MVNO has its own network infrastructure and acts as a standalone wireless carrier, like a traditional mobile network operator (MNO). A full MVNO typically also has all the core network elements such as an HRL, GGSN, PGW, SMS-C, SCP. While a thick MVNO will have some of these elements.A full MVNO is responsible for all aspects of its business, including marketing, sales, customer service, and network maintenance.
Overall, the main difference between a thick MVNO and a full MVNO is the degree of control and independence each has over its operations. A thick MVNO relies on a traditional MNO for some back-office and infrastructure support. While a full MVNO operates as a standalone carrier with its own infrastructure. Keep in mind that core network elements are expansive and the costs to set this up and maintain them are high.
4. What is the difference between full MVNO and light MVNO?
A full Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a company that provides mobile network services by leasing capacity and coverage from a mobile network operator and reselling those services to its own customers. A full MVNO is sometimes also called Enhanced Service Provider. A full MVNO typically offers a range of mobile services, including voice, text, and data. The full MVNO can set its own prices and create its own plans for its customers. A full MVNO typically also has all the core network elements. This enables the full MVNO to have more control over their services. A full MVNO is responsible for marketing, sales, and customer service for its own brand.
A light MVNO is a company that operates in a similar way to a full MVNO, but with some key differences. A light MVNO, also called Service Provider, typically only offers a limited range of mobile services, such as voice, data or text, and can set its own prices/plans. A light MVNO does not have any core network elements. A light MVNO does its own marketing, sales, and customer service. However, it has limited options/flexibility compared to a full MVNO such as charging different Data rates. For example depending on the Data type (e.g. free Facebook) free usage). Instead, they rely on the mobile network operator to handle these functions.
In summary, the main difference between a full/thick MVNO and a light MVNO is the extent of control and responsibility that each type of MVNO has over its mobile network services. A full/thick MVNO has all control and responsibility. While a light MVNO has less control and responsibility. A light MVNO is easier and less expansive to setup. However, the margins (ARPU) per subscriber will be lower because they make more use of the MNO services.
5. What is the difference between light MVNO and thin MVNO?
A light MVNO is a type of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that has a limited range of products and services compared to a traditional mobile network operator (MNO) or a full/thick MVNO (see above). Light MVNO mostly focus on specific segments of the market. Such as prepaid customers or specific demographics, communities and so on and offer a limited/specific selection of plans or features.
A thin MVNO (sometimes also called Branded Reseller), on the other hand, is a type of MVNO that has very little control over its own operations and relies heavily on the infrastructure and support of a traditional MNO. A thin MVNO may have limited or no control over its own billing, bundles, customer care, and other back-office systems. They will simply rebrand and resell the same products and services as the MNO to customers under their own brand. In some case the thin MVNO also resells for a light/thick/full MVNO.
Overall, the main difference between a light MVNO and a thin MVNO is the degree of control and independence each has over its operations and product offerings. A light MVNO may have a more limited range of products and services, but it has more control over its own operations compared to a thin MVNO which is simply a reseller.
Overall
The MVNE/A can be setup as light/thick/full MVNE simular to an MVN, thus offering less or more features. The full MVNO is the most expansive setup but will give the best flexibility and control for the different MVNO types. It can be wise to start as a thin, light MVNO and expand when your customer/subscriber base grows. This is of course all depending on your business plan, makrting plan, finacial plan, etc. we will describe this in more detail in our next blog.
Would you like to know more?
Livecom provides Service Delivery Platform with Value Added Services (VAS) solutions, such as Voicemail, Missed Call Alert, Interactive Voice Response and OMNI-Channel Contact Center solutions to various MVNE/A/O suppliers. Livecom therefore has various partnerships with good, professional, and reliable MVNE/A/O companies.