Operator Vodacom South Africa has built an enablement platform for mobile virtual network operators and signed up its first MVNO client, declaring the platform open for business.
The client, Mr Price Mobile, is the first MVNO to be supported on Vodacom’s network. It is now able to activate all the new customers on its network.
Vodacom has, it seems, become an MVNE – or mobile virtual network enabler – by building a platform to support the offering. MVNEs are mobile virtual network enablers that provide the infrastructure and back-end services for MVNOs.
Surprisingly perhaps, Vodacom is the third mobile network operator in South Africa to support MVNOs. Cell C pioneered the MVNO model in the local market and remains by far the largest host of MVNOs. Indeed, Mr Price Mobile has utilised Cell C’s network infrastructure and will apparently continue to do so. MTN is also a player.
According to the TechCentral website, the MVNO market in South Africa is expanding, with a growing number of non-telecoms brands – such as Shoprite, FNB and Capitec – offering products.
The partnership with Mr Price Mobile means Vodacom is now compliant with communications regulator ICASA’s requirement for successful bidders in the 2022 spectrum auction to host and provide support to MVNOs.
TechCentral quotes a Vodacom spokesperson as confirming that the company is committed to the MVNO model, saying: “We are now open for business, and we can confidently say we are ready to onboard other MVNO partners.”
