The mobile industry is undergoing a renaissance. Not in the artistic sense, but in the way connectivity is embedded, monetised and consumed. The traditional mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) model is evolving, driven by demand for frictionless digital experiences, modular technology and a new generation of digital-first brands. Here, Hamish White explains why embedded connectivity is not a buzzword, but a business model…

At Mobilise, we have seen this rebirth firsthand through the growth of our HERO® mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) platform, a digital infrastructure that combines everything needed to operate as a mobile provider, including eSIM management, billing, customer care and analytics.

But this is not about HERO. It is about what is changing, why it matters and where the most meaningful opportunities are for those ready to rethink what mobile connectivity can be.

The rise of embedded connectivity

We’re seeing embedded connectivity become the backbone of a new wave of services. Think of fintech apps offering roaming data, airlines supplying connectivity as a loyalty perk, lifestyle brands introducing their own connectivity offers or even presidents launching their own service. Trump Mobile, anyone? It’s not about launching “a telco”; it’s about integrating connectivity into a broader value proposition.

Revolut and Nubank are the poster children of this shift. These digital banking giants have used mobile connectivity to extend their ecosystem, deepen customer engagement and unlock new recurring revenue streams. They’re not telcos in the traditional sense, but they’ve become operators in their own right. And they’ve done it without building legacy stacks or owning spectrum. That’s the power of digital MVNE platforms.

It’s safe to say that the most successful MVNOs over the next five years won’t resemble traditional telcos at all; they’ll look like fintechs, travel apps and retail giants.

What makes a digital MVNE platform different?

What’s most exciting about this shift isn’t only the technology, but the business innovation that comes with it. Bundling mobile access intelligently transforms it from a cost centre into a premium feature. Connectivity keeps users engaged within digital ecosystems, drives loyalty and opens new revenue streams without the need to become a full-scale telco.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are many platforms out there that claim to be MVNEs, but many are simply legacy infrastructure wrapped in a cloud wrapper. And if you’re a legacy brand, that may be all you want to achieve. But if you’re building a digital-first service with a strong UX, real-time control and scalable economics, you need more than a lift-and-shift open-source software (OSS).

A truly digital MVNE platform that can help brands achieve this meets a few specific criteria. It has a modular architecture that offers plug-and-play components such as eSIM, CRM, billing, self-care and analytics, allowing brands to integrate their own systems or preferred third-party tools.

Built natively in the cloud, it scales effortlessly to match demand and replaces legacy complexity with agility. It is centred on eSIM technology for instant activation and global reach, fully driven by APIs for seamless integration and designed around the customer experience rather than operator constraints. Without these boxes ticked, a business of any sector looking to offer embedded connectivity cannot become a successful MVNO.

We’re at an inflexion point. The traditional MVNO market, while mature in many regions, is being redefined by embedded connectivity and the entrance of vertical challengers. Success is no longer about owning the customer in the traditional telco sense. It depends on delivering value through connectivity in a way that strengthens a brand’s core proposition rather than distracting from it.

Whether you are a fintech, a digital brand or an established operator looking to modernise, there has never been a better moment to explore what digital MVNE platforms can offer. MVNO 2.0 is not just about lowering costs. It is about strategy, differentiation and experience.

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