Mobile Virtual Network Enabler
Encyclopedia
A Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (or MVNE) is a company that provides services to mobile virtual network operator
s, such as billing
, network element provisioning
, administration, operations, support of business support systems
and operations support systems, and provision of back end network
elements, to enable provision of mobile network services like cellular phone connectivity.
A MVNE does not have a relationship with end-user customers. Instead, an MVNE provides infrastructure and services to enable Mobile Virtual Network Operator
s (MVNOs) to offer services and have a relationship with end-user customer
s. MVNEs offer the ability for an MVNO to focus on their core strengths of brand
, customer loyalty and marketing
and leave the back-end enablement and operations, to MVNEs. They also have shared risk-reward arrangements with the MVNO with various kinds of revenue sharing
models, usually tied to the number of subscribers that the MVNO has projected in their business plan
.
From a systems standpoint, designing MVNEs is a complex process that includes taking commercial off-the-shelf applications and converting them to work in a multi-tenancy model in a seamless fashion.
According to Pyramid Research http://telephonyonline.com/wireless/marketing/telecom_enabling_competition/, there are three main categories of enablers, according to their MVNO solutions:
Aggregator MVNEs: these offer consulting and integration services and have bundled all of the back-office network components through alliances. These promote their ability to quickly provide order-to-cash solutions to MVNOs. Companies include Ztar and TMNG.
Aggregator MVNEs with their own platforms: this includes aggregators which have developed one or more back-office solutions internally, and have complemented them with partnerships to provide end-to-end enablement
services. Companies include Plintron, Transatel
, SISTEER, Telcordia, Effortel
, Qualution, Elephant Talk, Baraka Telecom in Asia, and Arterra and aql in The United Kingdom (UK).
Specialised enablers: these offer only parts of the back-office network such as messaging platforms, data platforms and billing solutions. They are not solely focused on the MVNO market.
The voice-centric, operationally "light" MVNOs of today have generally worked with an aggregator MVNE that managed the limited back-end operations on behalf of the MVNO. The new breed high-end, strong brand MVNO is transforming the dynamics of the MVNE market. Besides leveraging their own existing assets, they choose to own more of their platforms, particularly their logistics, distribution and customer care systems. They still work with MVNEs, but they tend to opt for specialized ones with best-of-breed solutions and a strong reputation.
In addition MVNAs (Mobile Virtual Network Aggregators) are being established who have their own master MVNO agreement, all the necessary infrastructure and hosted systems and can set up a client as their own MVNO in a much shorter time at a lower cost than getting their own MVNO agreement.
Mobile virtual network operator
A mobile virtual network operator is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service...
s, such as billing
Call accounting
A Call Accounting System is a telecommunications software or hardware application that captures, records, and costs telephone usage events. Internationally call accounting systems may be referred to as call logging systems...
, network element provisioning
Provisioning
In telecommunication, provisioning is the process of preparing and equipping a network to allow it to provide services to its users. In NS/EP telecommunications services, "provisioning" equates to "initiation" and includes altering the state of an existing priority service or capability.In a...
, administration, operations, support of business support systems
Business Support Systems
Business support systems are the components that a telephone operator or telco uses to run its business operations towards customer. BSS and OSS platforms are linked in the need to support various end to end services...
and operations support systems, and provision of back end network
Telecommunications network
A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit switching or message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so messages or connections...
elements, to enable provision of mobile network services like cellular phone connectivity.
A MVNE does not have a relationship with end-user customers. Instead, an MVNE provides infrastructure and services to enable Mobile Virtual Network Operator
Mobile virtual network operator
A mobile virtual network operator is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service...
s (MVNOs) to offer services and have a relationship with end-user customer
Customer
A customer is usually used to refer to a current or potential buyer or user of the products of an individual or organization, called the supplier, seller, or vendor. This is typically through purchasing or renting goods or services...
s. MVNEs offer the ability for an MVNO to focus on their core strengths of brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
, customer loyalty and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
and leave the back-end enablement and operations, to MVNEs. They also have shared risk-reward arrangements with the MVNO with various kinds of revenue sharing
Revenue sharing
Revenue sharing has multiple, related meanings depending on context.In business, revenue sharing refers to the sharing of profits and losses among different groups. One form shares between the general partner and limited partners in a limited partnership...
models, usually tied to the number of subscribers that the MVNO has projected in their business plan
Business plan
A business plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons why they are believed attainable, and the plan for reaching those goals. It may also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals....
.
From a systems standpoint, designing MVNEs is a complex process that includes taking commercial off-the-shelf applications and converting them to work in a multi-tenancy model in a seamless fashion.
According to Pyramid Research http://telephonyonline.com/wireless/marketing/telecom_enabling_competition/, there are three main categories of enablers, according to their MVNO solutions:
Aggregator MVNEs: these offer consulting and integration services and have bundled all of the back-office network components through alliances. These promote their ability to quickly provide order-to-cash solutions to MVNOs. Companies include Ztar and TMNG.
Aggregator MVNEs with their own platforms: this includes aggregators which have developed one or more back-office solutions internally, and have complemented them with partnerships to provide end-to-end enablement
Application Enablement
Application enablement is an approach which brings telecommunications network providers and developers together to combine their network and web abilities in creating and delivering high demand advanced services and new intelligent applications....
services. Companies include Plintron, Transatel
Transatel
Transatel is a pan-European company founded in August 2000, with headquarters in Paris and offices in London, Brussels, Luxembourg, and in the Netherlands...
, SISTEER, Telcordia, Effortel
Effortel
Effortel SA is a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler providing a platform-based transaction processing and management services for Mobile Virtual Network Operators , and acts as an MVNO itself in partnership with Carrefour.MVNE Services:* voice,...
, Qualution, Elephant Talk, Baraka Telecom in Asia, and Arterra and aql in The United Kingdom (UK).
Specialised enablers: these offer only parts of the back-office network such as messaging platforms, data platforms and billing solutions. They are not solely focused on the MVNO market.
The voice-centric, operationally "light" MVNOs of today have generally worked with an aggregator MVNE that managed the limited back-end operations on behalf of the MVNO. The new breed high-end, strong brand MVNO is transforming the dynamics of the MVNE market. Besides leveraging their own existing assets, they choose to own more of their platforms, particularly their logistics, distribution and customer care systems. They still work with MVNEs, but they tend to opt for specialized ones with best-of-breed solutions and a strong reputation.
In addition MVNAs (Mobile Virtual Network Aggregators) are being established who have their own master MVNO agreement, all the necessary infrastructure and hosted systems and can set up a client as their own MVNO in a much shorter time at a lower cost than getting their own MVNO agreement.