New research from MVNODirectory.com has found that there are over 213 active MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators). The majority of these MVNOs are spread across Europe, but the country with the most MVNOs is the USA (51 active operations).  It is also clear that the mobile community can not decide what a MVNO is. MVNODirectory.com has taken this into account and defined a MVNO as a mobile voice / data service, operated via a third party's licensed spectrum network, where the third party is not in contact with the end user. But the MVNO world is not this simple. MegaFon, who are a mobile network operator (MNO), also has its own MVNO operation. In Africa there is ZanTel's operation with Vodacom. Even the straightforward MVNOs are not straightforward, such as Virgin Mobile Australia, who is owned by their carrier, Optus. It seems that MVNOs are queuing up to launch.

The same research has found 34 companies who are either about to launch or who have officially stated their intention to launch. Eircom in Ireland are trying to access the 3G market after being rejected for a spectrum license. Xero Mobile in the USA is set to target the student market; but they may have already been beaten to market by Virgin Mobile's ads-for-minutes offer. South Africa is about to get its own Virgin Mobile and the massive growth markets of China and India could also see a 2006 Virgin Mobile launch. The 34 likely launches exclude 17 operations that have been attributed to market speculation or are a long time from launching, such as Apple and Ryanair. In a year that has already seen Disney Mobile targeting parents, Helio targeting mobile content users and EU telco regulators getting aggressive, it is certain to say that there is much more action to come from the global MVNO marketplace.
www.mvnodirectory.com