THE policy framework and opening of Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) licenses is yet another initiative taken by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to fast-track the digital nation vision.

This framework will enable smaller virtual operators to add value in niche markets that are difficult for conventional Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to address, primarily through their innovative value-added solutions. The framework needs to be seen from the perspective of what it intends to deliver and how it supports both ends of the equation, the MNO and the MVNO, to partner rather than compete. It is important to examine the gaps that need to be filled to make the framework more adaptable as well as the winning factors that will be key for new entrants.

By limiting new entrants to billing and value-added service systems, the PTA has opted to go for “Thin MVNOs” instead of a “Full-Scale MVNO” model with a complete core network system sharing only the radio or wireless infrastructure of MNO. This strategy is totally aligned with the current market situation, where 5G rollout is in progress, fiber-to-the-site........

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