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Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) offer mobile telecommunications services by purchasing capacity from mobile network operators (MNOs) and competing on the retail market. This study examines national data to identify possible impacts of MVNOs on the mobile market and on mobile service users. While open wholesale markets for MVNOs are relatively widespread in European countries, evidence of their impact on end users is limited due to a lack of previous research. This study uses data from the market entry of MVNOs in the Czech Republic in 2013 to estimate the impact on end users. Based on synthetic control methods, the results clearly show that the market entry of MVNOs led to a decrease in the price of calls and to a decrease in the average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) of operators. However, no significant effect on the price of data or on consumption was found. These results have some implications for policy and for the mobile industry. • A unique analysis of the impact of MVNOs market entry on prices, consumption and ARPU. • Increased market competition due to the entry of MVNOs has resulted in lower voice unit prices and total ARPU, but has no effect on data market services. • The impact of MVNOs in the dominant data market seems to be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Telecommunication is described by enormous settled, sunk, and irreversible speculation, which makes it high-hazard undertaking. The circumstance is additionally aggravated in the mobile part by progressive ages of innovation. The introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) added value for both operators and customers; for the operators by using their available excess capacity and for the customers by offering innovative and several niche value-added services that were not offered by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). However, mobile operators in developing nations are urban and semi-urban based, and very few operators provide services in rural areas. There are many un-served and under-served market segments still available. The major issue for developing nations is the formulation and implementation of policies, rules, and regulations. With an extensive variety of brands, companies are willing to enter the mobile business. An exclusively exploited radio access network by mobile network operators, new concepts and strategies are required to bring the opportunity for both telecom and non-telecom organizations to take part in the mobile sector. In this paper, we aim to develop a regulatory framework for MVNO in developing nations' telecommunication market as follows: first, to carry out a thorough analysis of market and draft a feasibility study for MVNOs in the telecommunications ("telecom") market in developing nations; and second, to develop required regulations for enhanced growth opportunities in the telecom market. This can be regarded as the effort for creating infrastructure for deploying e-Government in the developing countries. Highlights • We examined deployment of Mobile Virtual Network Operator in developing nations. • A new regulatory framework and guidelines for MVNO were proposed. • We analyzed the best global practices on MVNO. • MVNO was discussed in Telecom Market where international practices are zero level. • It is a reference document for the government to put the sector into priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterprise and Service Provider networks are increasingly making use of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) to reap the benefits of reduced Capital expenditures (CAPEX) and Operating expenses (OPEX). Total cost of ownership calculations however are typically a function of the attainable network performance, which in a virtualized system is highly dependent on the overall system architecture and the resource allocation policy. This paper examines how to improve the overall performance of deploying VNFs in a virtualized environment, proposing an appropriate architectural framework to leverage the capabilities of other technologies such as Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Cloud Computing which can be highly complemented with the Network Function Virtualization (NFV) paradigm. We focus on the standardization of the three technologies under a common architecture and we incorporate resource allocation as a main functional architectural block. The problem studied is referred as the VNF placement problem, and tries to efficiently, intelligently, and dynamically allocate a series of VNFs comprising a service chain in a cloud environment according to the current status of the cloud resources. We propose and evaluate a set of algorithms towards satisfying the requirement of enterprise and service providers to grant high performance VNFs for the end users, while allowing the cloud providers to profitably utilize the available resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Software Defined Networking (SDN) architecture was developed in the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) Architecture working group. It is intended to support standardization related to the broader area of software defined networking and affects not only the understanding and related work within ONF, but across a number of standards and/or open-source development organizations. This article provides a brief outline of the SDN architecture, its relation to Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and areas for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper extends previous research examining wholesale market shares of mobile network operators (MNOs). This study demonstrates that wholesale market concentration has decreased over time because of the increase of competition of MNOs for hosting mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). However, differences in wholesale market shares between MNOs have not disappeared. We propose that those operators that are late entrants in a market and belong to an international group with a proactive attitude towards hosting virtual operators positively influences wholesale market shares of MNOs. The empirical analysis is based on a panel data from 2000 to 2010 corresponding to MNOs and virtual operators in five European countries with high development of the virtual mobile industry. By closely examining KPN we show how being an international mobile group specialising in the wholesale market across Europe has enabled it to exploit complementarities that exist between traditional and virtual businesses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) provides mobile telecommunication services by eluding the constraints of the radio communication infrastructure and establishing an agreement with a hosting network operator (HNO) for the use of its spectrum. Thus, MVNOs offer a wide range of mobile services and directly compete with every mobile network operator (MNO). This paper studies the economic justifications for potential regulatory intervention that defines the level of mobile termination rates (MTRs) and negotiations and agreements among MVNOs and HNOs. The results show that symmetric MTR reduction leads to competition growth among operators, forcing every operator to reduce retail prices and, consequently, to enhancing consumer welfare. The paper also finds that a collaborative strategy adopted by an HNO and an MVNO is advantageous for both and induces a reduction in retail prices, thus weakening other MNOs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]