Virtual Network Operator Market Report 2025

This report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The virtual network operator market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $108.33 billion in 2024 to $119.74 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased physical network infrastructure, regulatory changes, demand for specialized telecom services, partnerships, and collaborations, and the need for cost efficiency.

The virtual network operator market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $176.68 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the rise of industry-specific VNOs, convergence of telecom and IT services, shift towards network orchestration and automation, and expansion of wholesale and MVNO partnerships. Major trends in the forecast period include the 5G deployment and adoption, IoT integration, digital transformation initiatives, and the emergence of virtualization technologies.

The anticipated surge in mobile data usage is set to drive the expansion of the virtual network operator (VNO) market in the coming years. Mobile data usage refers to the volume of data transmitted and received by a mobile device via a cellular network within a specific timeframe. The increasing demand for mobile data usage is attributed to various factors, including the rising adoption of online content, the proliferation of streaming services, and the growing popularity of bandwidth-intensive applications. Virtual network operators leverage mobile data to offer wireless communication services to consumers without owning the underlying network infrastructure. For example, a report published by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, a Sweden-based multinational networking and telecommunications company, revealed a 38% growth in global mobile network data traffic between Q3 2021 and Q3 2022. Consequently, the surge in mobile data usage is a key driver of the virtual network operator market's growth.

Major players in the virtual network operator market are concentrating on introducing advanced solutions like mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to gain a competitive advantage. MVNOs are wireless communication service providers that deliver services without owning the wireless infrastructure they utilize. For instance, in November 2023, FPT Retail, a Vietnam-based IT company specializing in telecom and digital retail services, launched its MVNO in Vietnam, offering the 'FPT Super Data SIM' to its employees at FPT Shops and FPT Long Châu pharmacies. This initiative aims to expand service offerings to clients while leveraging the ecosystem advantages of the entire FPT Group across various industries such as retail, internet, television, e-commerce, communication services, education, and training. With the introduction of FPT Retail MVNO, Vietnam now boasts five active MVNOs.

In August 2023, Wireless Logic, a UK-based telecommunications firm, acquired Webbing for approximately $200 million. Through this acquisition, Wireless Logic seeks to acquire Webbing's eSIM technology, which has been at the forefront of the transition towards the new GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) eSIM standards for IoT. Webbing, an Israel-based MVNO, provides enterprise-grade global connectivity and IoT services.

Major companies operating in the virtual network operator market report are KDDI Corporation; DISH Network L.L.C.; PosteMobile S.p.A.; 1&1 AG; Infobip Limited; Tesco Mobile Limited; Lebara Group BV; Boost Mobile LLC; TracFone Wireless Inc.; Enreach Holding; Virgin Media Business Limited; Virgin Mobile USA; Cricket Wireless; Truphone Ltd; Asahi Net Inc.; Kajeet Inc.; FRiENDi Mobile; Lycamobile Pty Ltd; Airvoice Wireless LLC.; TP Global Operations Limited; DataXoom Corp.; FreedomPop; Asda Mobile; Giffgaff Limited; Orange S.A.

North America was the largest region in the virtual network operator market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the virtual network operator market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the virtual network operator market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The virtual network operator market includes revenues earned by entities by providing voice communications, SMS (Short Message Service) services, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) services, and data services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

A virtual network operator (VNO) is a company that furnishes telecommunication services by renting network infrastructure from other operators. By leasing network infrastructure from established operators, it can offer telecommunication services, presenting cost-effective solutions for extending network coverage or venturing into new markets.

The primary offerings of virtual network operators comprise mobile virtual network operators and fixed virtual network operators. A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a telecommunications company that delivers mobile communication services to customers by leasing network capacity and services from existing mobile network operators (MNOs). It provides various services, including prepaid and postpaid options, catering to a diverse array of end users such as consumers and enterprises.

The virtual network operator market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides virtual network operator market statistics, including virtual network operator industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with virtual network operator market share, detailed virtual network operator market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the virtual network operator industry. This virtual network operator market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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