Cell C is winding down its contract base and has become a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on Vodacom’s network to serve these subscribers.
An MVNO is a wireless communications service provider that does not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers.
In January 2021, Cell C surprised the market when it announced that it had started to move its contract and broadband subscribers to Vodacom’s network.
Cell C has an extensive national roaming agreement with MTN, giving it access to MTN’s 3G and 4G radio networks.
It uses its spectrum on a virtualised radio access network on MTN’s infrastructure as part of the agreement.
Cell C also maintains its IMSI range, core data, voice and transmission network and own billing platform.
The technology used on the virtualised radio access network is known as Multi Operator Core Network (MOCN), which is not the same as traditional roaming.
With all this technology in place, it was unexpected for Cell C to move its contract and broadband subscribers to Vodacom’s network instead of using its own network.
Vodacom confirmed that Cell C does not own any of the wireless network infrastructure used to provide services to its contract subscribers.
Cell C is, therefore, by definition, an MVNO on Vodacom’s network to service its contract and broadband customers.
Industry players Daily Investor spoke to, including executives from South African mobile operators, confirmed that Cell C is an MVNO on Vodacom.
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Curiously, Cell C CTO Schalk Visser and a Vodacom spokesperson denied that Cell C is an MVNO.
Visser told Daily Investor that Cell C maintains its identity as a mobile network operator without referencing the definition.
Vodacom could not explain why it said Cell C is not an MVNO. It only said, “Cell C has a roaming arrangement with Vodacom”.
Daily Investor asked Cell C for further information about winding down its contract base, but the operator preferred not to answer this question.
Cell C would also not comment on its roaming agreement with Vodacom.
Source: My Broadband
