ARCEPs MVNO directory page sets the baseline for how virtual mobile operators work in France: MVNOs do not have their own radio network, and they buy wholesale communications from mobile network operators to provide services. It also distinguishes brand licensing agreements from the underlying responsibility for communications service delivery, and it clarifies how MVNOs and MVNEs are selected for inclusion in ARCEPs indicative lists.
For operators, integrators, and enterprise buyers, the practical takeaway is less marketing and more contracting: ARCEP publishes the MVNO host-operator relationships only when there is a direct host contract, and it excludes MVNOs that rely on MVNE partners for their setup.
MVNO mechanics: no radio network, wholesale capacity from host MNOs
ARCEP defines MVNOs as operators that do not have their own radio network. To deliver mobile communications services to their subscribers, MVNOs rely on services from one or more mobile network operators. In ARCEPs framing, MVNOs obtain wholesale communications in bulk from those mobile network operators.
Even without a radio network, ARCEP states that MVNOs fully control the design and launch of their commercial offers. ARCEP also positions the MVNO as fully responsible for providing the mobile communications services to its customers.
Who is responsible, and what brand licensing changes
ARCEP separates commercial branding from service responsibility. It describes brand licensing agreements signed between an operator and a third-party company as arrangements that allow the operator to sell an offer (or range of offers) using the partner companys brand. ARCEP further says an operator can pair that brand with specific services tied to the partners activity, including access to enriched content such as music and access to banking services.
At the same time, ARCEP states that the network operator remains responsible for providing mobile communications services to end customers. That line matters in contracting and regulatory mapping: branding and offer design sit with the MVNO, but ARCEP assigns end-customer service responsibility to the host network operator.
How ARCEP builds its indicative MVNO list (and why some MVNOs are excluded)
ARCEP publishes an indicative non-exhaustive list of major MVNOs present in the retail market. ARCEP ties the lists updates to changes in commercial strategies and to agreements signed with network operators.
Critically, ARCEP limits inclusion to MVNOs that have a direct host contract with one or more mobile network operators. MVNOs that rely on MVNE partners are not listed on this page. ARCEP also adds a treatment rule for consolidation: MVNOs owned by more than 50% by an MNO are counted with the network operators in the market indicators ARCEP publishes.
Directory examples: MVNO host networks and MVNE enablers
ARCEPs directory illustrates these host relationships across multiple operators. It lists Airmob as an MVNO hosted by Bouygues Telecom, Orange, and SFR, serving business customers. It lists Akeo as an MVNO hosted by Bouygues Telecom and Orange, serving residential customers. It lists Alphalink as an MVNO hosted by Orange and SFR, serving business customers.
ARCEP also provides examples that connect MVNO positioning to customer segments such as M2M/IoT. For instance, ARCEP lists Coriolis Telecom (Altice) as an MVNO hosted by SFR serving residential customers, business customers, and M2M/IoT customers. It lists Cubic as an MVNO hosted by Orange serving M2M/IoT connectivity customers. It also lists Transatel as an MVNO hosted by Orange serving business customers for M2M/IoT.
On the MVNE side, ARCEP defines MVNEs (Mobile Virtual Network Enablers) as companies that provide MVNOs with a set of services or equipment needed for mobile operator activity. ARCEP says MVNEs are often also aggregators (MVNAs). It describes an aggregator as buying wholesale servicesvoice, SMS, and datafrom one or more network operators to resell them to virtual operators without requiring those virtual operators to sign a contract directly with a network operator.
ARCEPs MVNE examples on the same page include Airmob Infra Full as an MVNE hosted by Orange and SFR, Alphalink as an MVNE hosted by Orange and SFR, IP Directions as an MVNE hosted by Orange, Legos as an MVNE hosted by Orange, Netwo as an MVNE hosted by Orange, Unyc as an MVNE hosted by Orange, Sewan Communications as an MVNE hosted by Bouygues Telecom, Orange, and SFR, and Transatel as an MVNE hosted by Orange.