The MVNO Directory 2011

Research Process

The MVNO Directory is now in its 5th edition, the 1st edition was published back in 2006. Each directory update begins with a media review; the researchers take the previous edition and amend the core database with launches, causalities and enhancements. At this stage the focus is upon ensuring that the Blycroft list of active MVNOs provides an ideal starting point for the update. The media review took place during March 2011 and consisted of comparing and contrasting mainly industry specific news, with the inclusion of relevant blogs and non traditional media.

205 operations were identified as new to The MVNO Directory. Profiles were created for each of these services while 66 operations were removed; being those which ceased trading, merged into other operations or were out by their host MNO. Not all MVNOs vanish, some such as Videotron evolve to the next stage and become MNOs.

Having exhausted the media review the researchers then focus on individual operations. During April and May the researchers examined every entry individually. This allowed for the main update and the inclusion of 2 new data fields to the 5th edition, being the recording of operations which offer Mobile Broadband and noting which offer handsets and which only offer SIM cards.

Coverage

The MVNO Directory seeks to profile all MVNOs and major resellers. It does not include fixed networks, traditional mobile networks or WiMAX operations. There are many free resources which provide a wealth of useful information about the industry. Unfortunately these services have over estimated the size of the market and tend not to remove inactive MVNOs or those which did not get beyond the planning stage. It would be impossible to provide a list of every company which is not an MVNO but from the media review and in-house research the researchers identified over 500 operations commonly referred to as active MVNOs, which are not. These are listed separately within The MVNO Directory with reasoning to assist readers in understanding the MVNO market.

To be included the operation should provide a mobile network based service to an end user. The MVNO should be responsible for that relationship on an ongoing basis but has to work with an MNO to provide the connectivity for the service. True MVNOs purchase minutes of use from MNOs, but being able to confirm this means seeing the contracts between MVNO and MNO, which are not public domain information. Therefore the directory does not provide classification of MVNO or reseller. The researchers aim to include every country offering these services.