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.

Can Self-Care Solutions Help Improve MVNO’s Customer Base?

MVNOs, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators, operate between wireless network infrastructures and the end user of wireless communication. MVNOs work directly with mobile network operators to negotiate bulk pricing, and then set up packages for the end user. As a result, the customer gets advantageous pricing, and a reliable company to provide billing and support, and the MVNO does not have to invest in their own wireless network infrastructure. 

A major component of an MVNOs value proposition is customer support. When wireless communication fails, end users need someone to reach out to, and most MVNOs step gracefully into that role. Setting up a strong customer support network is vital. Without a satisfied customer base, MVNOs would not be able to sustain a business. A balance must be struck between an MVNOs investment into customer service programs, customer satisfaction, and incoming revenue. 

Self-care solutions provide a fantastic and low-cost way to keep customers informed, attended to, and satisfied. 

A self-care customer support solution is essentially a glossary of everything a customer may need to know about the product or service they have purchased. An evolution of FAQ sections, most self-care solutions feature topical articles, video tutorials, and diagrams that explain aspects of the product or service to the end user. Some companies call these Knowledge Hubs, others call them Customer Portals, but most call them self-care solutions. The idea is to empower the customer to find answers to their questions without having to reach out to a customer support agent. 

If you are interested in setting up a self-care solution for your MVNO, consider including articles, flyers, or videos on the following topics:

• An outline of the packages available to your customer base. Customers that may be considering working with you or changing their existing services with you should be able to do their own research on what is available without having to call an agent.

• What happens in the event of an outage. Everyone today relies on mobile communication, and so the prospect of an outage strikes fear in the hearts of many. Assure your clients that your MVNO has a plan for outages by providing details of that plan that customers can find on their own.

• An explanation of your relationship with the mobile network operator that supports your customer’s communication plans. This will help them to understand where exactly their services are coming from.

These are just a few examples of self-care assets you can create to appeal to and improve your customer base. 

When it comes time to create the material for your self-care solution, make sure to consider the following elements:

• Content relevance. Is what you are looking to develop directly relevant to your audience, or is it only interesting to you as an MVNO leader?

• Content clarity. Wireless communication is a confusing industry with a lot of acronyms and complicated explanations for things that most people take for granted (like placing a wireless call). Remember to keep all of your content simple, clear, and easy for a layman to understand.

• User Experience. Make your self-care solution clean and easy to navigate. Put your most relevant pieces up top, and make searching simple and intuitive.

Remember, the heavy lifting you do now to set up your self-care solution will save your customer support team time and effort later on.

What makes a successful MVNO

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) play a crucial role in the market. They operate as the middlemen between mobile network operators who own wireless network infrastructures, and the end users who want to access wireless communications services. Every day, people rely on MVNOs to place calls without even realizing it. The mark of a good MVNO is its ability to reliably and seamlessly provide services such that all but the most savvy customers do not even realize that they are a part of the service equation. If you are considering entering the MVNO space, it is important to understand what success looks like, and the steps you will need to take in order to be successful.

Here are three more qualities that make a successful MVNO:

Reliability:

Frustration surrounding dropped calls is largely universal. When people today pick up their phones to make a call, they are not thinking about the incredible technology that allows them to reach anyone, anywhere, at any time. They do not consider the satellites circling the globe, the wireless network infrastructures that had to be created, or how that infrastructure is leveraged in a way that allocates network connection to them. MVNOs fit into that last and final part of the equation. They ensure that the technology and infrastructure that supports wireless communication is actually delivered to the end user in ways that make them usable. Technology and infrastructure do an end user no good if they cannot access it and use it. A good MVNO ensures connection every single time - without fail and without interruption. 

Cost-Effectiveness:

By purchasing bulk access to network services at wholesale rates, MVNOs can provide customized service at price points that work for their target markets. For example, the big 4 providers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile) may not offer customized plans at the same level that MVNOs can. If your target market is price sensitive, as an MVNO you can slice and dice services in a way that is less expensive to the end user, and will therefore drive them to choose you over a large provider. 

Strong Relationships:

Successful MVNOs maintain fantastic relationships with the mobile network operators they purchase from. The fact is that MVNOs cannot exist without MNOs, so it is important for MVNOs not to bite the hand that feeds. Strong relationships led to better rates, quicker problem solves, and more services that MVNOs can eventually pass on to their clients. MVNOs that breed tension with MNOs do not last very long in the marketplace. This space is competitive, so in order to ensure success MVNOs have to network effectively.

How Telgoo5 Supports MVNOs:

Telgoo5’s modular platform offers an Omni Channel CRM, billing, online charging, and a payment engine that drives many of the global brands in the MVNO space. We handle business logistics so that MVNOs do not have to. We support connections between MVNOs and their target audience, and we are so effective that most end users do not even realize we are there. If you are looking to launch and/or maintain a successful MVNO, you need to work with Telgoo5.

What MVNO Owners Need to Know About 5G

To keep your Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) relevant and noteworthy at all times, you always need to be keeping up with the latest mobile trends. Outdated services and offerings will quickly begin to lose you subscribers as consumers are always seeking the “next big thing”.

Said “next big thing” in question here is undoubtedly 5G technology as it has created quite a buzz around the mobile spectrum as of late. For the owner of an MVNO, the vital question becomes ‘how is this going to impact your network and what are the key details that you need to be conscious of?’

There is Potential for 5G Technology to Completely Change the Game

As for what 5G technology is, it is simply the latest wireless network generation. In addition to offering vastly improved speeds, 5G also has the capability of minimizing latency issues. Additionally it is going to enhance flexibility, as it allows for more devices to be connected simultaneously.

Those in the mobile industry have even gone as far as to claim that 5G could be one of the most influential and groundbreaking technologies seen in years. Before long, it will become the standard, and inferior networks will fade out.

Its Availability is Currently Limited

As it stands currently, 5G is not widely available across the major carriers. This is likely to change, as the year 2020 is set to be a monumental one regarding the rise of the 5G technology. It is not as if everyone can get their hands on the improved network; it is a bit more complicated than that.

The true reality is that the full potential of 5G is probably not going to be reached for the next few years. That said the global 5G innovation is going to be making more of an impact than some MVNOs will be ready for.

Current MVNOs are Planning to Offer 5G

One of the potential roadblocks your MVNO network is going to experience is if and when you can get your hands on 5G technology. The carrier or carriers you offer coverage from are going to initially offer their new groundbreaking network to some of their larger partnerships.

The good news is there are smaller brands that are intending to provide 5G-based services. Several MVNO owners have gone on record to claim that their platform would be delivering such experiences to their consumers.

All this news wraps up to the reality that your Wireless MVNO needs to account for the various demographics of users that are itching to utilize such network speeds. 4G is far from extinct but you need to act fast as before you know it, the standard will be changed to the 5G network.

Additionally, one must consider which Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) you do business through. At Telgoo5 we fully understand that the market changes and adapts oftentimes quicker than you can handle. With our constantly evolving platform and software, contact us today to connect with an enabler you can rely on.

The futures of MVNOs in Europe

With the recent trend changes in Europe, more and more people are turning to their mobile devices to handle their daily lives. This is achieved mainly through IOT and apps. To do this, they will continuously require greater speeds. The best MNVOs which have a higher chance of increasing their revenues and ensure growth are the ones that will have a solid plan backed by a reliable MVNE.

According to various studies, the MVNO market in Europe and other regions of the world is expected to reach an estimated $94.82 billion by the year 2025. This market growth is directly linked to the ever-growing use of mobile phones around the world.

Select the right MVNE

The success or failure of an MVNO boils down to the MVNE chosen. Thus, it’s vital to select a reliable MVNE who will connect you to the right MNO. The right MVNE partner will not allow financial flexibility but will also offer you a flexible platform which features great tools that will help you effectively manage your subscribers and services.

Define your USP

As the European market continues to become more saturated, it’s vital for MVNOs to look for various ways to set themselves apart from the competition. One great idea is to find a niche that’s quite targeted and then offer something that this niche requires. For instance, by offering mobile money services, you will be able to reach a group that’s yet to be tapped.

Finding a narrow niche typically comes down to how well you will be able to find a market that’s beyond the reach of the traditional marketing methods.

When defining and planning your USP, you should focus on;

• Price

• Service

• Product

• How are you going to make money?

Employing the right technology

According to a new report, ‘The MVNOs series report’, it’s estimated that 48.3 percent of MVNO’s will invest in new technology within the next few years. Upon the successful completion of the planning phase, you will be able to know exactly the type of technology that you are going to need.

As this is the case, we highly encourage you to do thorough research.

For instance, irrespective of your scope, you will require an analytics tool. At Telgoo5, we give you an analytics tool that will help you analyze the data from your subscribers, thereby allowing you to make an informed decision on how to position your product on the market.

Focus on operational excellence and the customer

Companies such as Apple and Amazon have made their consumers expect high certain level of consistent quality and service. Customers have limited patience for hold-ups and operational glitches.

Apart from demanding excellence, customers will also expect speed. If your company does not hold up to your customers’ expectations, then it’s quite easy for the customers to switch to another MVNO. Technology that enables excellence is utmost importance.

Base business on users

Many companies tend to make the mistake of basing their businesses on their respective needs instead of focusing on the needs of their customers. The reliable MVNOs clearly understand that everything has to be channeled towards the customer; value added bundles, customer service, operational processes and helpful products.

Steps to Starting Your Own MVNO

Running an MVNO you have started is not a simple task. This does not mean you should stop pursuing this kind of business. All you need is to have steps that can ensure you do not fail before you begin. So what do you need to know?

Starting Out

An MVNO, like any other business, is risky. Clients will expect you to provide several services that will not fail from day one. With this in mind, you need to know the exact needs of your prospective customers before you begin. Once you understand their needs there is a need of being nimble in your response to maintain the current clientele while winning new ones.

The only way to succeed in starting is ensuring you make meticulous preparations. In essence, you need to have the following three things:

• A strategic and effective plan to allow you to reach your proposed target segment. This should include how to package and offer services to successfully get your message out there.

• Access to technology that will enable your business to deliver the services your target clients require during the kick-off.

• You also need to know how to quickly adapt your portfolio as demand for new services arises.

Crafting a Plan

Considering the specific dynamics of a market you are trying to reach is a complex task. Generally, there are two ways you can efficiently compete with your competitors.

The first step involves an intimate understanding of a particular set of clients. Access to detailed client information will help you better tailor services to suit their needs. For example, this can be bundling third-party digital services, tailored pricing and offering specific communication services to create an unparalleled service experience.

Secondly, you need to consider new services or a different way of offering your current services. As an MVNO that can identify pricing models, packaging solutions or services, you are on the right track to win clients from a wide range of various segments.

When you craft such a plan, you have made a crucial step to start your MVNO. You should not relax at this point. You need to make sure you learn from your clients to consistently improve your services.

Finding and Getting the Technology Required in Place

Once the plan has been crafted to perfection, the next step is ensuring you have access to technology that will efficiently work with the plan. The technology needed in this case includes those that are initially required and services you may require for you to grow as the market changes.

When you are selecting your technology platform, you need to make sure you will gain sufficient control and assistance over service configuration and creation. The telecom market can change at any time. It sometimes moves quickly, sometimes in a matter of hours. As an MVNO, you need to make sure you set up with a platform that will allow you to receive updates to your service packaging and portfolio as soon as they arise.

Bottom Line

At Telgoo5, we have the experience and professionalism required to help you start your own MVNO business. Our current clients regularly express their happiness in their decision to use our service to start their MVNO businesses. Contact us today so we can help you start an MVNO business that will not fail.

Finding an Easy to Use MVNO Software? Here’s How Telgoo5 Can Help

Launching your own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) services is no easy feat. From obtaining infrastructural support to deploying your services to customers, the road to becoming an MVNO can be long.

One of the most crucial aspects of this process is perhaps finding an easy to use MVNO Software. It is because your operations support system (OSS) is the lifeblood of your MVNO platform. If it is intuitive, then it can help you scale your MVNO to the next level. On the other hand, if it is too complex to be operated, even by your trained staff, then it can take down your whole operation.

That is why it is imperative that your MVNO Software is not only highly functional but that it is also simple to use. With that being said, finding a MVNO Platform that strikes a balance between functionality and ease of use is not that simple.

Keeping this in mind, Telgoo5 has developed a state of the art MVNO Software Solution that maintains the required balance between functionality and simplicity. As a result, you can enjoy all the OSS tools you need to Become MVNO through a very easy to use platform.

To help you determine how Telgoo5 can help, here’s a list of some of the core features of our software solutions that can take your MVNO to the next level.

You Can Manage Multiple Services Under the Same Umbrella

Unlike most other MVNO solution providers that are very complex to use, the OSS solutions from Telgoo5 are purpose-built to make convenience shine through its functions.

That is why Telgoo5’s MVNO software is developed to provide an array of features through a single platform. From activating features to monitoring service performance, and from billing for content to tracking customer usage, you can execute crucial functions right through the OSS itself.

This way, your staff doesn’t have to jump from software to software to perform every single function. As a result, you can enjoy higher productivity and enhanced service delivery.

You Can Grow Your Subscriber Base Efficiently

Most other MVNO Solutions only help you Become MVNO and leave you to do the rest. But at Telgoo5, we make sure to be with you every step of the way and assist you in not only Becoming an MVNO, but also establishing your services as a credible provider.

As a result, we have made sure that our services do not only help you launch global services in just a few weeks but that they also come with the ability to optimize your operations.

With that, we also hold extensive experience in expanding our customers’ reach and growing their subscriber base through targeted programs that are bound to provide tangible results. If you are looking for a service that helps you scale your operations, then Telgoo5’s OSS might be the perfect fit for you.

All of this is done through the same, simple, and easy to use MVNO Software that has become the heart and soul of Telgoo5.

Our Holistic Billing Solutions Ensure Improved Services

Since accurate billing serves as the foundation of any telecom provider, we have ensured that our billing services follow a holistic structure.

Online charging system (OCS), taxation mechanisms, interactive voice recording (IVR), and customer relationship management (CRM) are just a few of the components in our MVNO Software that let you get the most of your telecom billing.

With simple to deploy billing solutions, these services set Telgoo5 apart from the run of the mill providers. To provide further accuracy, we also have an in-house service monitoring team that ensures all our components are running flawlessly. This makes sure that your services are not only being provisioned in an easy to use manner but that they are also error-free even in their most complex form.

With a growing list of partners all over the world, we are more than happy to help even more credible entities Become MVNO in their selected regions. If you are currently looking to launch your MVNO Services, or enhance your current breadth of solutions, feel free to reach out to us today.

How Virtualization Can Help MVNEs to Offer More Flexible Services

Operational flexibility in one of the single most important attributes customers look out for when they are looking for an MVNE. Many MVNE companies try to address this need by marketing their services with phrases like “in a box”, “scalable”, and similar phrases. In reality, however, most MVNE services are anything but flexible. Such services are usually offered in arbitrary bundles on whose scope the customer has no say. To get a cutting edge, an MVNE needs to make its services truly flexible. In this article, we discuss ways in which MVNEs can utilize the power of the cloud and reliable suppliers to improve the flexibility of their offerings.

How Migrating to Cloud Environment Helps MVNEs to Offer Flexible Services

Many MVNEs offer services with a mixture of full cloud and partial cloud-based services. Having full integrated cloud services is should be the ultimate target for MVNEs that intend to be competitive. Migrating all services to the cloud can help an MVNE to have:

• More flexibility in the way resources are allocated. This enables allocation of more resources to a certain task without fidgeting with the hardware

• Improved security which enables you to provide assurance beyond that of the donor

• Unlimited connectivity ability which can enable the company to have over 16 Short Message Service Centers (SMSCs) or more instead of the typical two

• Assurance that data will be maintained in one network environment whether it is being stored, processed, or reported.

• Up to 99.99 percent uptime even if donors can’t get beyond 97 percent.

Build Your Own Cloud

Photo by panumas nikhomkhai from Pexels

Some MVNEs are responding to the challenge of becoming fully cloud-based by building their own cloud systems. Such projects make services that are considered “off the shelf” and are partly in the cloud to be fully cloud services. Such services include Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), Software-Defined Networking (SDN), and more. An MVNE may be able to improve its session Board Controller (SBC), Mobile Switching Center (MSC), SMSC, Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), and Over The Air (OTA) by re-integrating them in this way. Of course, this may require a big investment in terms of time, human resources, and money. This scenarios does not favor all MVNEs.

Find Suppliers That Enable Flexibility

The reality is that most MVNE companies don’t have the resources needed to deploy everything they need for a full cloud operation. Building your own systems for services like APIs, security patching, regression, debugging, connectivity, and billing may be a toll order for your MVNE and many companies need to work with suppliers to deliver services to the MVNOs. The issue with many MVNE suppliers is that the suppliers do not give them the rights or license to sell freely to third parties. This prevents MVNEs from repackaging their services to meet the individual needs of their customers. To give your customers the flexibility they require, you need to get reliable suppliers that allow you to deploy as they wish without restrictions. Companies, therefore, need to work with the right suppliers to be able to provide flexible services to the customers. You will be able to make all your services including SBC, MSC, SMSC, and GGSN, and OTA fully in the cloud.

Building a single cloud environment for your MVNE will, no doubt, simplify the company’s operations. It also enables MVNEs to offer MVNOs more flexible services. MVNEs can integrate their services by building their own cloud hardware or finding reliable suppliers. At Telogoo5, we provide scalable billing services to MVNE. We understand that each MVNE is unique and their customers may have unique needs that differ from others. That is why we offers flexible and scalable billing services that can be tweaked to meet the needs of individual customers. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote today.