MVNEs and OCS’s Absolute Guide

MVNE Contingent on accurate Online Charging Systems

In today's world of telecom providers, the MVNE plays a pivotal role in behind-the-scenes operations. MVNE or Mobile Virtual Network Enabler can be thought of as the backbone of MVNOs. They are a telecom solution for network infrastructure and other services such as administration, operations support systems, SIM provisioning, and business support systems. An MVNE specializes in the planning, implementation, and management phases of companies that offer mobile services.

Given the wide range of responsibilities that MVNE has, they will need support from many aspects, such as an Online Charging System (OCS). The industry has grown in complexity over the years. Telecom providers offer more services, giving their customers more choices. As a result, every MVNE will need an online charging vendor to simplify its process and provide real-time tracking.

At Telgoo5, we allow MVNE and MVNO’s to charge in real-time based on service usage.

You’ll need to provide a real-time telecom billing system to display the most up-to-date usage for customers. This prevents payment confusion that could ruin the customer experience. Telgoo5 also offers session-based charging and event-based charging allowing your business to customize your offerings.

How to Choose the Right Online Payment Method for Your MVNE Needs?

While many companies offer telecom billing systems, you'll want to find the solution that matches your MVNE needs. Here are some features that every online charging system provider needs.

Scalability

As your business grows, you'll need to handle a larger customer base. A system that loses its functionality during peak hours or can't handle an increase in subscriber count won't fit your needs. Make sure the OCS can handle both vertical and horizontal scalability.

Flexibility

Every online charging system should come with real-time charging and convergent billing. Convergent billing is the sum of all service charges into one invoice allowing customers to view the different services used easily.

Convergent billing offers many advantages such as:

●     Cross-service discounts so that customers can receive preferential pricing

●     Support for both pre-paid and post-paid billing

●     Maximize revenue streams and minimize leakage

Cloud-based System

A cloud-based online charging system continually works for you 24/7. This eliminates potential errors or system issues that a non-cloud-based system would have. Using the cloud ensures you can provide accurate charging, especially for MVNE companies, which must provide accurate usage to MVNOs or other clientele. Cloud systems can provide accurate billing for data, calls, SMS messages, and more.

Security Encryption

When it comes to customer records, their information must be encrypted and never compromised. The security encryption technology should be updated frequently to handle future cyber threats. Telgoo5 leverages Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure to ensure the complete safety of data and accurate processing.

Customer Service

Excellent customer service should always be a consideration with any vendor you work with. When it comes to wireless network infrastructure, data session failures or disrupted calls or texts may occur. As a result, you'll need instantaneous responses to serve your clients best. Choose a vendor that puts its customers first and has friendly representatives who quickly provide solutions.

Reporting and Analytics

Any OCS should offer telecom billing analytics that provides data into usage, behavior, and other stats. As an MVNE, gaining insight into your customer's behaviors allows you to see how you can better serve your clients and shape your operations to meet the ever-changing demands of the telecom industry.

Conclusion 

At Telgoo5, we offer innovative online charging systems specifically geared towards the telecom industry. We support the latest services, including 5G and IoT. Our cloud-based system offers real-time charging and convergent billing to keep your customers happy. Furthermore, Telgoo5 lets mobile operators customize their solutions by providing pre-paid, post-paid, IoT, and Machine to Machine services. As a result, MVNE, MVNO, and MVNA’s can tailor their services to meet the demands of their customers.

7 Essential Features of Great MVNO Providers

MVNOs, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators, are a fantastic consumer option. Rather than owning their own wireless network infrastructure, MVNOs maintain relationships with infrastructure owners and then resell access to the end user. As middle-men, MVNOs handle the difficult negotiating and are able to provide advantageous packages to consumers based on the bulk pricing they receive. 

If you are considering working with an MVNO, make sure that you look for these 7 essential features. These are the things that make an MVNO provider great. 

1. Agreements with multiple networks for high speed access wherever their clients are. Some MVNOs have agreements with just one network, but great ones have agreements with multiple networks. This ensures coverage and redundancy, so that the end user never goes without the service they need. Working with an MVNO that maintains multiple agreements means better pricing, more coverage, and higher speeds.

2. Advantageous pricing since MVNOs do not need to pay to maintain their own wireless networks. Most people assume that MVNOs mark-up wireless communication access in order to make money off of their contracts. Amazingly, the opposite is true. Since MVNOs do not have to maintain their own wireless infrastructure, their business costs are significantly less than the companies that do own their own networks A great MVNO will then pass those savings along to the consumer, making MVNOs the more economical choice.

3. Provide perks like hotspot data, free gifts, and pricing promotions. Most people come to MVNOs for wireless network access, but some perks and incentives can change a satisfied customer to an elated customer. A great MVNO will offer their customer more reasons to love them. Things like hotspots, pricing promotions, and free devices can really move the customer satisfaction needle.

4. Customizable packages to meet consumer needs. The big wireless access providers that own their own networks tend to provide the same services to everyone, regardless of their individual needs. Their packages are rigid, and if they don’t work perfectly for you, you are expected to adapt as the consumer. MVNOs enjoy more freedom than that, and good ones will offer customizable packages.

5. Fantastic customer service. Large companies can be frustratingly hard to get in touch with when support is needed. It is not uncommon for consumers to sit on hold for hours on end before ever speaking to a rep. Since MVNOs do not have to maintain their own infrastructure, good ones choose to put their resources into fantastic customer support so that their customers can always quickly and easily reach out with frustrations and questions.

6. Easy to use online service. Most people today prefer to handle everything online, which is why the most successful MVNOs invest in online services rather than brick and mortar stores. The easier online services are to use, the happier the customer.

7. Strong marketing. Finally, great MVNOs make sure that the marketplace knows who they are! The biggest name in the industry are the companies that own their own networks. Most consumers do not even realize that MVNOs are an option. Great MVNOs market their advantages, and market them a lot in order to convert and maintain more customers.

Why is it Important to Have a Mobile App?

It is difficult to remember now, but there was a time when people navigated the world without a super-computer in their pockets.

Drivers had to rely on local knowledge and paper maps, restaurant reviews came through word-of-mouth and newspapers, and television shows had to be watched at home at specific times. Back then, it was not uncommon for a telephone user to receive paper statements in the mail and rely on customer support lines for inquiries and issues. 

 Today, nearly everyone uses mobile data to access google maps, yelp helps us to determine whether a restaurant is worth it or not, and steaming platforms make our favorite pieces of content available everywhere. Considering everything that is afforded to us, it is understandable that telecommunication users would not want to lean on paper statements and 1-800 numbers for support. Consumers today want an app. 

In 2020, more than 3.5 billion people were smartphone users. That amount was up by 239% from 2012, and it is projected to grow by another 19.4% by 2023.

Smartphone usage is not going away. If you do not develop a mobile app for your customers, it is likely that one of your competitors will. Consumers are drawn to convenience, so make sure that you are not losing people to another service provider that is more forward-thinking.

There are numerous benefits to consumer-facing mobile apps. Here are a few of the most significant ones

• Hyper-flexibility. Consumer facing announcements can be pushed out via mobile apps. Branding changes can be made with the click of a button. Notifications can be pushed to a user’s home screen, and so much more. Communication and company announcements have never been easier and faster than they are today with the advent of mobile applications. 

• Improved consumer engagement. Keeping customers engaged is a great way to keep them using your service, and the easier it is to interact with your brand, the more engaged they will be. Mobile apps are super convenient for your consumers. This will keep them engaged with your service, and by extension, more likely to stay on as a paying customer. 

• Increased customer satisfaction. Considering that consumers are drawn to convenience, it makes sense that the more convenient things are, the more satisfied they will be. Satisfied customers are more likely to stay with your customer, pay their bills on time and in full, and refer your service to their friends and family.

• Easier customer management. A mobile application can double as a customer self-service solution. Giving customers the ability to track their service usage, pay their bills, manage their accounts, and submit customer support tickets through a mobile app is a fantastic way to reduce your own customer-service costs. Put the power in the hands of the consumer and transition your own team members to larger, more strategic initiatives. 

Mobile applications are incredibly pervasive. If you do not already have one, you are behind. If you do have one, Telgoo5 can make sure that it delivers on the benefits listed above. Your customers will thank you.

How MVNOs are Staying Relevant in 2019 & Beyond

Becoming a virtual mobile network operator (MVNO) in the U.S. telecom and communications sector is a feat that not everyone can achieve successfully. Whether you are a big tech conglomerate or a famous entertainment giant, your current level of success might not be relevant in the competitive MVNO segment.Why?

Well, running a MVNO service is more than just leasing the required network infrastructure. It is more work than designing lucrative pricing packages. And it is more time consuming than holding flashy pitch meetings.

But there’s a key to appreciating the importance of these requirements. It lies within understanding how these factors played out against those who did not pay attention to them. From there, it is a matter of avoiding those mistakes to run your own successful MVNO platform.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most hyped MNVOs of the past, how they met their downfall, and how you can avoid a similar fate with your telecom venture.

First Things First: What is a MVNO?

If you made it to this post, then you might already know what is an MVNO is and how it works. But let’s do a quick refresher to jog your memory.

Simply put, a MVNO works through a virtual telecom network that relies on traditional network infrastructure to run its operations. For instance, in the U.S., a MVNO typically relies upon the physical infrastructure of companies such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. The MVNO rents out a part of the physical infrastructure’s resources at wholesale pricing and sells it at a retail price to its target audience.

In other words, a MVNO is simply a large-scale reseller. What sets it apart from its original network partners or other counterparts are the services that it offers.

Why Do MVNOs Attract So Many Investors?

Those who know about the ins and outs of MVNO companies would know how several entities in the past took MVNOs as a “get rich quick” scheme.

The program was simple. Just spend a large amount of capital, lease existing infrastructure, and market your services to your target audience.

But if only it were as straightforward as that.

Not getting a realistic picture of the requirements, companies such as ESPN, Amp’d, and Disney all went down the path to launch their MVNO service anyway. Much to the predictions of industry experts, they all ended up failing rather spectacularly.

The main reason behind their disappointing results and subsequent shutdown were a lack of planning, vision, and long-term sustainability in terms of infrastructure support.

Whenever a company is about to launch a MVNO platform – it is necessary to get all its affairs in order.

In simple terms, experts advise any investors only to enter the sector if they are doing so with a clear plan of long term operations. If they don’t have a sustainable and easy way to run their MVNO companies, then it is more or less a doomed operation.

With that, if they keep a few factors in mind, then they could very well turn their new venture into a long term business.

How Can MVNOs Succeed in Today’s Day and Age?

Apart from well-devised planning, targeted marketing, and super-smooth presentations, running a MVNO service requires you to put in the work with a holistic approach towards your operations.

There’s no denying that you need to be at the top of your game in terms of networking and communications. But at the same time, you also have to be extremely focused on your customers’ expectations.

Similarly, you have to strike the perfect balance between uptime and quality, coverage and delivery, as well as billing and marketing.

Companies that follow these guidelines have shown particularly successful metrics against their efforts. This is especially true in markets outside of the U.S., which is judged by how the current number of MVNOs surpasses the psychological figure of 1,000 different providers. To put matters in perspective, these MVNO companies collectively serve over 10 percent of mobile users all over the world.

How to Make Your Mark in a Market Such as the U.S.?

When it comes to the success of a MVNO platform, the U.S. market is a bit different. New players in the telecom sector not only have to offer lucrative prices, but they also have to provide more flexible data plans. They have to deliver exceptional clarity in voice services. At the same time, they also need to provide consistent uptime in data and billing services.

Here’s the kicker. They have to do all of that while having exceptional support over pricing and quality. While this sounds extremely difficult, it is not impossible at all. MVNOs such as Google Fi is proof of that.

At Telgoo5, we exhibit all the necessary tools to turn your budding MVNO service into a success story. With exceptional billing, infrastructure, and a holistic MVNO platform, we make the process of launching your MVNO companies as easy as the click of a few buttons.

Apart from exceptional onboarding, we also take pride in our easy to use MVNO service management solutions. Whether you want to optimize your services, increase your number of customers, or expand your outreach, we are there for you every step of the way. With dedicated account managers and 24 x 7 NOC support, we are just a call away from helping you with any pressing issue.

Whether you want to launch your MVNO platform, or need to optimize your current service, feel free to reach out to us today.

How MVNOs Can Increase the Bottom Line of a Mobile Network Operator?

Customer churn is a major problem associated with telecom business nowadays. Due to an increase in competition amongst CSPs (Communication Service Providers), customers are receiving newer and better options with attractive pricing and features. Hence, they are changing their telecom service providers faster than ever before. This trend has made the task of making profit for an MNO (Mobile Network Operator) extremely challenging. However, evolving technologies and development of MVNO platform has provided an innovative way to increase the bottom line for a telecom company.

Utilizing MVNO and MVNE for Triple Advantage

For a large scale MNO, it is hard to create customized services that meet the requirements of every mobile user in a particular area. Hence, some subscribers feel left out and show their anger by terminating their subscription. This directly influences the revenue generation of the MNO. All the effort it has put into buying frequency spectrum, procuring infrastructure and creating alliances with mobile phone manufactures is offset by subscribers’ decision to move out.

The MNO is left with vast resources that are underutilized due to customer attrition. It cannot sell the frequency spectrum and infrastructure to competing companies as it will dilute his brand. Also, it is not a wise decision to rest on its laurels and watch its business stagnate due to customer migration. In this situation, MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) come as a ray of hope for such an MNO.

Not only an MVNO can help an MNO in sustaining his business, it also offers a triple
advantage, if utilized carefully. Have a look at the three advantages below:

First advantage: Revenue from customers who have left you

For an MNO, a partnership with an MVNO is like selling your resources such as voice minutes, data, SMS etc. in wholesale. In actuality, you are allowing an MVNO to use your spare spectrum and infrastructure, so you get consistent revenue through resources that otherwise would have been unused.

So, when you forge a partnership with an MVNO that covers the same region as yours, a major share of the customers that leave you go straight to that MVNO and subscribe to its services. When this happens, you indirectly profit from the same customers that have left you in the form of the revenue generated by your partner MVNO.

Second advantage: Revenue from customers who have left your competitors

If your competing MNOs’ customers also decide to leave them, then your MVNO can become an option for them. A major share of such customers will join your MVNO and indirectly provide revenue to you.

Third advantage: Revenue from new customers

With new mobile users entering the market, your MVNOs income will grow and so will your revenue.

The abovementioned example brings to light the advantages offered by a single MVNO. However, the same advantages can be leveraged by partnering with multiple MVNOs. The best way to accomplish this is by using an MVNO and MVNE platform.

Role of MVNE in MVNO Service

An MVNE (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler) is directly related with an MVNO’s performance and service. MVNE is called an enabler of services because it plays a vital role in creation of smaller MVNOs. An MVNE provides OSS/BSS solutions to the MVNOs along with setting up their virtual network. While bigger MVNOs have their very own OSS/BSS software and are generally responsible for billing their own customers, it is the smaller MVNOs that profit the most from MVNEs. Some of the major benefits of MVNE with regards to MVNO service and performance are listed below:

Better negotiations for pricing – An MVNE can be considered as a common link between multiple small MVNOs and an MNO. It has the responsibility of buying resources in bulk from an MNO. And we all know, bulk buying is considerably cheaper than buying a small amount. Hence, MVNEs are able to negotiate better deals with MNOs and procure resources e.g. calling minutes and SMS at a lower price. This helps an MVNO greatly and it is able to survive in the competitive telecom world.

More time to handle customer-facing tasks – With network setup, accounting and  billing-related activities handed over to an MVNE; an MVNO is able to focus more on offering day-to-day services and building its brand image.