MVNO Momentum Accelerates Worldwide

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are entering a period of rapid expansion, with the UK market offering a clear example. Recent analyst data from FDM CCS Insight shows MVNO customers in the UK will grow 51% between 2026 and 2031, reaching 30.7 million users and capturing 30% of the national market. This reflects a broader global trend: digital brands, fintechs, retailers, and niche service providers are launching MVNO propositions to deliver flexible, low‑cost, app‑centric mobile services.

BroadForward, a leading provider of next‑generation signaling solutions, sees this trend directly through rising product demand. The company reports a steady increase in MVNO and MVNE launches across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, driven by the need for agile, cloud‑ready mobile services – including support for legacy network functions.

Why MVNOs Are Rising – And What It Means for Operators

MVNO growth presents both opportunity and pressure for traditional operators. MVNOs generate higher wholesale revenues by bringing new customers onto host networks, but they also intensify retail competition, especially from low‑cost digital‑first brands.

Analysts expect operators to become more defensive in wholesale negotiations later this decade. For now, however, the MVNO market is experiencing a “purple patch,” with new entrants emerging monthly – particularly in fintech. UK examples include Monzo Mobile (running on VMO2 with eSIM tech from 1Global) and Revolut Mobile (powered by Gigs on Vodafone).

BroadForward’s Role: Multi‑Network Signaling for MVNO Scale

BroadForward’s software‑based signaling products – including STP, DRA, DEA, SEPP, Diameter, SS7 and 5G Firewall, and Interworking – are widely deployed by MVNOs and MVNEs requiring flexible, vendor‑independent signaling across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G.

Here are some of their customers:

• Tata MOVE – MVNE providing large‑scale B2B operational capabilities
• Lebara Mobile – serving nearly 5 million subscribers
• Cubic³ – managing over 30 million connected vehicles and devices
• Truphone (now 1Global) – global eSIM‑based MVNO/MVNE across 200+ countries
• 1NCE – supporting 22+ million connected products across 170+ countries
• Circles – B2B vendor partnering with operators in 14 countries
• Wireless Logic – manages over 20 million connected IoT devices across 165 countries
• KORE – IoT‑focused MVNO with multi‑carrier coverage in more than 180 countries. And many more

These customers rely on BroadForward’s multi‑network, cross‑generation signaling solutions to operate seamlessly across 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and emerging architectures. Deployed in a data center of their choice, BroadForward’s software‑only signaling solutions enable IoT MVNOs and connectivity service providers to integrate with host operators, onboard customers, manage roaming, and launch new services rapidly – without the typical constraints of legacy hardware‑based systems.

The Future: MVNOs Will Keep Operators on Their Toes

With MVNO market share rising globally – not just in the UK – operators will continue to face pressure from digital challengers. Fintech MVNOs alone are forecast to reach over 3 million UK customers by 2031, representing 11% of the MVNO market.

BroadForward’s expanding customer base and technology footprint highlights how essential modern, flexible, multi-generation-capable solutions are for MVNO competitiveness. As more brands enter the mobile space, BroadForward’s software‑only, cloud‑ready approach positions it as a key enabler of the next wave of MVNO innovation.