The business case for data and AI
Article 2 from the Series: Winning in the data economy Topics covered: 1. Conceptual business case2. The benefits3. The costs and opportunity costs4. Comparing and measuring5. Conclusion Remember the days when every capital project needed a business case and they all claimed they’d save headcount...
Brazilian Market Update for IoT Cellular Connectivity
In recent years, Brazil's cellular connectivity market has witnessed significant transformations, driven largely by the increasing demand for Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. These advancements have not only redefined the landscape for service providers but also opened up new opportunities and...
5 Reasons Why a Great Idea for an MVNO Can Become a Great Big Flop
If every great idea made the amount of money it could be worth, I’d have a lot of very rich friends. (But, in fact, I do not.) As Edison suggested when he said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration,” many factors stand between a great idea and a great business. The same is true for an...
Empowering Your Workforce: Upskilling with AI or Bringing in the Experts?
In an age where technology constantly disrupts the norm, Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are embracing the magic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) to supercharge their operations and wow their customers. These cutting-edge technologies are not just tech buzzwords;...
Embedded connectivity and the future of Customer Loyalty
“If you build it, he will come.” This famous (and often misquoted) line from Field of Dreams may have inspired countless dreamers but in the business world, it has led to more than a few disasters. While it makes for a great movie moment, it’s terrible advice for launching a successful telco...
The data economy: why it matters for MVNOs
Topics covered: Data as a currency. Trends in businesses leveraging data. What does this mean for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO’s). Conclusion. Introduction It was Zuora (I think!) that first coined the term the subscription economy some 10 years ago. It strikes me though that the message...
Choose your MVNO partners wisely – dos and don’ts.
There is a significant chance that your business relationships will last longer than the average marriage. So, needless to say, choose your partners wisely. A couple of months ago, I wrote the opinion piece “How do you avoid the race towards the bottom as an MVNO?”. The advice I shared is based on...
How travel eSIMs can bring more players into the Connectivity Value Chain
Network operator roaming charges are somewhat infamous for their cost in many countries, and as a result, a large number of travellers go ‘silent.’ Indeed, a recent survey has shown that, across 20 international markets with high volumes of international travel, at least 20% of travellers in these...
Web3 and MVNOs: What can MVNOs learn from Web3 and Crypto?
I have been in Crypto for a long time. It truly is the Finance Wild West that everyone thinks it is. I have made money, lost money, been hacked, felt the FOMO and FUD. I have been a day trader and bag HODL and even been an early whale in new tokens, and it never ended well other than UNIFI (bless...
Customer Experience (CX) not QoS or QoE
I began my collaboration on this blog a few months ago, launching it with an article focused on user satisfaction with Happy Customers, Happy Business: The Recipe for Success, a recurring theme to which I will frequently return. I believe this aspect is fundamental and undoubtedly the main...
Telecom Challenge: Monetization
It is counterproductive, but in an increasingly connected world with growing demand for connectivity, monetizing networks has become challenging. For the first time, the market is one of the aspects being considered in the development of the next generation of cellular networks, 6G. Population...
Spanish MVNOs: Present and Future (Part III)
Disclaimer: This article does not aim to question any of the offers analyzed, nor has it been sponsored by any of the mentioned (or unmentioned) operators. It is the result of an analysis from the perspective of a consulting professional who needs to understand the market and its trends. However,...
Games of Phones
Every time Apple releases a new iPhone, carriers brace themselves for a "supercycle" - a seismic event in telecom when hundreds of thousands of consumers switch networks in order to get their hands on the latest iPhone. In order to win this "game of phones", carriers compete to offer customers the...
To connectivity and beyond: how telco can boost streamings bottom line
To connectivity and beyond: Why ad-free streaming platforms should be serving up telco to boost the bottom line. It’s been an open secret within the industry for a while, but in a move that will tighten the screws on an already competitive streaming market, Warner Brothers have confirmed that HBO...
Three Ingredients for an Overdue MVNO Growth Spurt
Twenty-five years after Virgin Mobile pioneered the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) model, the market is primed for a new wave of transformation. We’ve identified three critical factors poised to reshape the success of MVNOs today: mergers and acquisitions (M&A), refreshing wholesale...
Brazil MVNO Snapshot and IoT Opportunities
With its 8,515 thousand km² and just over 212 million people, Brazil is the largest country in Latin America. If Latin America were a country, it would be the 3rd largest in the world, with 600 million inhabitants and a GDP of USD 5.8 trillion. Brazil represents 33% of this market. However, Brazil...
Why industry jargon is out and loyalty is in when it comes to talking telco
It's not you. It's me.We've grown apart, lost the spark, and I think it's best we move on. Apart from creating an obvious barrier to understanding, acronyms like MVNO do a terrible job of selling the many benefits connectivity experiences bring to a product suite. That's why I've ditched the term...
How do you avoid the race toward the bottom as an MVNO?
Since I joined the telecom industry about three years ago, I've spoken to dozens, if not hundreds, of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) founders. These conversations have been rewarding in many ways, as they have given me a unique insight into what separates winners from losers....
Navigating the Telecom Cosmos: Lessons from Apollo 13 for MVNO Success
Embarking on the journey to become a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in the U.S. market can feel as if you're charting a course through the cosmos. The Apollo 13 saga, often dubbed a "successful failure," echoes the innovative spirit and resilience required to navigate the telecom...
Does 5G Present Opportunities for MVNOs or a step improvement?
Our interactions with MVNOs in the last 2 years have given us the sense that most MVNO view 5G as a step improvement over 4G (and the other Gs before that) hence have clear business opportunities for MVNO that are distinct from what hitherto been the case. In our experience, this is far from the...
Spanish MVNOs: Present and Future (Part II)
In the first part of this Guest Blog, we analyzed the size of the Spanish mobile market, focusing on the number of mobile lines and their distribution among different operators. The growing evolution of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) year after year became evident. Although licenses to...
Spanish MVNOs: Present and Future (Part I)
We will begin this analysis by thanking the CNMC for its commitment to transparency, providing the public with a valuable source of information on the dynamic telecommunications market. This accessibility is fundamental for all stakeholders in the sector, from operators and sellers to consultants...
Ten Years Later, Are MVNOs Still Lost in the Labyrinth?
In Jim Henson’s cult classic film the Labyrinth (The Labyrinth Trailer), a young girl named Sarah (starring Jennifer Connelly) must traverse an ancient maze to rescue Toby, her baby brother, from the villainous Goblin King, Jareth (brilliantly portrayed by the inimitable David Bowie). Armed with...
MNO View of MVNOs – threat, partner, or sales channel?
MNOs have something of a complicated relationship with MVNOs; while they can bring more customers into the network they can also be seen as potentially cannibalising the MNO’s market share, reducing the ARPU an operator receives from their connections. The short answer is that MVNOs can be all...