The US and global MVNO market is at a turning point. A market that emerged from a multitude of small and large specialists in low-cost long-distance calling cards, MVNOs are now evolving into another level of sophistication and redefining new customer segments and customer offerings.
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The shift away from a low-cost, consumer-focused market is gradual, but the direction of travel is becoming more visible as new partnerships are formed.
From legacy networks to 5G: First, the existing consumer MVNO market is becoming increasingly complex, and those MVNO brands that still focus on residential customers will want access to the latest networks, such as 5G. 5G device availability will reach the mass market faster than any other generation of devices. MVNOs will need to request 5G access from their host operators sooner if they want to remain relevant to their customers.
From People to Things: With the global IoT market forecast to reach 2.6 billion connections by 2025, according to Omdia, there are hundreds of sub-segments across hundreds of markets that need vertical and application specialists who can solve a multitude of business cases. Every day, profitably. The marketplace of ideas is even more in demand for focused players than consumer MVNOs ever were.
From consumer to enterprise: Beyond the IoT segment, the emergence of self-service mobile enterprises will open up opportunities for the MVNO ecosystem. Some enterprises are actively working to become mobility service providers for their employees and partners. An inspiring example is Uber in Brazil, where the economic giant is looking to sell connectivity to its drivers and delivery partners.
From public to private networks: With the rapid development of private networks, some enterprises will prefer to work with players who specialize in their sector. According to a survey of 507 enterprises by Omdia, 3% of them trust MVNOs and MVNEs most in partnership and assistance in implementing a private LTE/5G strategy. Although 3% seems small, it confirms that MVNOs are niche and highly specialized players.
