US search giant Google could launch its long anticipated MVNO as early as today, according to a WSJ report. An additional detail teased in the report is that Google is expected to offer data on a pay-as-you-go basis, with subscribers only paying for the amount of data they use.
Hong Kong-based telco Hutchison Whampoa, parent company of mobile operator Three, has launched a mobile virtual network operator enablement (MVNE) platform, dubbed “Hue”. According to Hutchison, Hue acts as a single point of entry for MVNOs looking for a global footprint and will have access to Hutchison’s networks across Europe and Asia.
Tele2 has announced its Austrian subsidiary will re-enter the country’s mobile market as a business-to-business MVNO over T-Mobile’s network. The Swedish operator said the move will make Tele2 one of Austria’s most diversified telecoms providers with an offer covering broadband, TV, and fixed and mobile telephony.
Google’s SVP of Products, Sundar Pichai, confirmed in his speech at MWC that the OTT giant is in advanced testing of its floating cellular network, consisting of inflatable balloons and lightweight solar-powered planes. Projects “Loon” and “Titan”, respectively, are in the early phases of testing, but Pichai believes the two projects will provide a portable “mesh of floating cell towers”. He also confirmed the long-anticipated rumour that Google is looking to launch an MVNO in the US.
Lycamobile, the international low-cost calling MVNO, said it will soon be releasing a communications app for its growing international customer base. Speaking to telecoms.com, CEO Chris Tooley hinted the app will be in the same vein as global OTT communications services like Whatsapp and Viber.
Pay TV and broadband service provider, Sky, has signed an agreement with Telefónica UK to launch an MVNO on its network in early 2016. The provider is already well established in the triple-play market, providing premium television, film and sport services, along with residential broadband offerings.
Google is reportedly planning to start an MVNO business, which according to unnamed sources quoted by the Information would operate on T-Mobile US (TMUS) or Sprint’s network. The report claimed the project, apparently codenamed Nova and headed by Google Executive Nick Fox, is set to launch this year.
European-based MVNO Lebara has announced the launch of its service in Saudi Arabia over Mobily’s network. The provider, named Lebara Mobile KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), was granted the licence as part of the Saudi regulator’s attempt to shake-up the country’s telecoms market by ordering each of the three operators to host an MVNO.
Sweden-based operator Tele2 has announced it is to launch a 4G-only network in the Netherlands at the beginning of 2015. The move will mark the telco’s transformation from an MVNO to an MNO in the Dutch market.
Enterprise-focused operator Vodafone Americas has announced it is to launch an MVNO targeted at its multinational (MNC) customers either based in the US or with a strong presence in the country. The telco said the service, to be launched in the latter part of 2015, will be offered under an MVNO with the T-Mobile US.
The process of consolidation following the acquisition of E-Plus by Telefónica has begun with the announcement of a non-binding “Letter of Intent” between Telefónica Germany and German MVNO Drillisch for the latter to buy yourphone, which is currently a sub-brand of E-Plus.
A new MVNO has launched on Sprint’s mobile network in the USA, with the promise of requiring zero credit checks for its customers. Madstar Mobile piggybacks on Sprint’s cellular network, and subsequently promises 3G or 4G LTE to more than 96% of the USA population.
It has been reported that BT has run into technical difficulties that are delaying its planned return to the consumer mobile market. As reported by the Telegraph, the telco has encountered problems in the technology designed to direct voice and data traffic over wifi rather than 4G.
Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (VMMEA) has begun services in Saudi Arabia. In a shake-up to the kingdom’s mobile market, the Communication and Information Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia (CITC) has ordered each of the country’s three mobile operators to host an MVNO to boost competition.
Hofer, the Austrian branch of Aldi, is reportedly entering the mobile market in January with its own mobile service offering. It would replace Yesss!, the MVNO Hofer announced it was dropping last December, although the contract is still valid until the end of this year.
Three Wholesale has confirmed that it is hosting a new SIM-only MVNO on its network. JOi Telecom, which will serve the UK and France markets initially, launched today and is the consumer-focused, SIM-only mobile brand of parent company ACN Europe. Lynda Burton, Director for Three Wholesale, is excited by the new business model JOi will […]
African airline Kenya Airways this week entered the communications service provider sector after striking an MVNO agreement with African and Asian emerging markets carrier Bharti Airtel.
Mobile company Truphone, which is actively seeking to distance itself from the MVNO tag, this week joined the GSMA as an Associate Member, under the ‘Application Developer’ category.
The UK Post Office has announced it will become and MVNO later this year, using the EE network, in a move that couldn’t be more symbolic if it tried.
The European Commission has announced the conditional approval of Telefónica’s bid to acquire German operator E-Plus, almost a year after the deal was first announced, which will result in the merger of Germany’s third and fourth-largest operators and reduce the total number of operators in the country to three.
New Euro Android charges could be $40 per device https://t.co/2wTSDeanwG
19 October 2018 @ 17:01:53 UTC
Standard Bank confirms South African MVNO launch https://t.co/QT7MAXH6Mf
19 October 2018 @ 16:01:36 UTC
Facebook bags former UK Deputy PM as lobbyist in chief https://t.co/NkacDbrvVB
19 October 2018 @ 16:01:35 UTC
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