mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)

A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a company that can, but does not have to, have its own mobile communications infrastructure to connect to a radio network. For the actual radio transmission, an MVNO uses the mobile networks of the mobile network operators, Mobile Virtual Network Enabler( MVNE).

The advantage of MVNOs, also known as mobile discounters or airtime resellers, is that they do not have to invest in mobile networks, but on the other hand they can offer their own services and also their own content for their customers and respond flexibly to market needs. Mobile communications discounters therefore focus on specific industries and customer groups and offer special mobile communications and value-added services for them, such as localization, location-based services, triple play, lifestyle services, voice services, multimediamessaging service( MMS), unified messaging service( UMS), video services, or even low-cost rates.

If the mobile discounter has its own mobile communications infrastructure with core networks, access networks and mobile switching centers, it can incorporate services from these networks into its discount concept. This gives them just as many options for designing services and rates as the network operator from whom they lease the mobile networks.

Mobile communications discounters such as congstar.de or blau.de have their own customer base management with location directories( HLR) and visitor directories( VLR) and their own accounting based on call detail records( CDR).