Service Delivery: Expert Tasks MVNOs On Collaboration

The Managing Director, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), Mr. Satya Mekala, has emphasized that collaboration among MVNOs presents an opportunity for delivering value-added services across various sectors in the country.

Mekala made the call during the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Conference in Lagos on Thursday. He explained that such services, including health, education, and agriculture, were instrumental in enhancing citizens’ lives.

The conference, themed “Profitable Paths: Charting the Future of MVNOs in Nigeria,” shed light on the pivotal role of MVNOs, which operate without owning a mobile spectrum license but leverage the infrastructure of licensed mobile operators to offer services under their brand names.

Mekala stressed that collaborative efforts among MVNOs enabled them to pool expertise, tackle challenges collectively, build profitable ventures, and deliver essential value-added services crucial for the populace and the nation.

He highlighted MVNOs’ advantageous position in fostering innovation, particularly in education, agriculture, and rural development, underscoring the potential economic benefits for both the country and the MVNOs.

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The managing director advocated for government intervention to improve infrastructure in rural areas, thereby integrating underserved populations into the mainstream.

He suggested subsidies and favorable policies to incentivize investments from companies, ultimately facilitating connectivity for the unconnected populace.

Despite acknowledging the potential, Mekala also addressed challenges such as profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability stemming from limited pricing flexibility and constraints on technological innovation.

Himmat Gill, Vice President of TecnoTree, echoed these sentiments, projecting a steady annual growth rate of 6.7% for the Global Mobile Virtual Network by 2028. Gill emphasized the distinction between MVNOs and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), noting MVNOs’ focus on local content and enabling transactions in local currencies.

The conference, organized by Wireless Technology Labs, specialized in providing MVNO core network elements supporting voice and data across various network generations through a containerized architecture.