Mobile Network Operators

Mobile Networks Explained

A Mobile Network is a system that allows users to communicate wirelessly over large geographical areas by using a series of interconnected base stations. Each base station contains large transmitters and receivers which facilitate communication between user devices. Modern day Mobile Networks can be thought of as enormous wireless internet connections, similar in many ways to a simple WiFi modem but on a much grander scale.

Mobile Network Operators (MNO's) are companies who have built and operate their own network infrastructure. This is contrasted to Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), which are far greater in numbers, who rebrand and sell access to another company's network.

Each MNO operates one or more frequencies called carriers which, not surprisingly, are used carry data through the air. Data are encoded onto a carrier frequency according to a common standard, such as 3G, 4G, or 5G. Each standard details the digital techniques used to encode the data and the antenna techniques used to transmit the carrier, along with detailing how multiple carriers can be operated together to provide greater speed.

Samsung 5G mobile phone running speedtest on Telstra network
Roshan (Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd) is Afghanistan's leading total communications provider with over 6.5 million active subscribers and a network that covers over 287 districts and cities in all of the country's 34 provinces.
3G: Active
4G: Not Available
Afghan Telecom, branded as Salaam, is a mobile network operating in Afghanistan. Incorporated in 2013, the company activated its first services in February 2014. Afghan Telecom was previously government owned until being turned into a private entity in 2005, with 80% ownership sold to private investors in 2008.
3G: Active
4G: Not Available
Telekom Albania SH.A. (also known as T-Mobile Albania) is a telecommunications company that operates in Albania. Telekom Albania sh.a. provides mobile telecommunications services in Albania. It also offers wireless Internet services; and sells smartphones.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Vodafone Albania Sh.A provides telecommunications services. The company was incorporated in 2001 and is based in Tirana, Alabania. Vodafone Albania Sh.A operates as a subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Planned
Unitel S.A. is the largest mobile network operator in Angola, and provides mobile and data telecommunication services in Angola. It offers mobile calling, high speed data, and other services over its 3G and 4G networks.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Telecom Personal S.A. provides mobile telephony services to individuals and companies in Argentina and Paraguay. Telecom Personal S.A. was founded in 1994 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3G: Active
4G: Active
UCom, branded as U!Com is a major mobile carrier operating in Armenia. UCom, then Orange Armenia, was established in 2009 after the Orange group acquired a mobile telecoms license in the region. Orange since deployed one of the country’s most extensive 3G and 4G networks across both in the capital Yerevan and many rural areas.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Setar N.V. is a privatised telecommunications service provider for the island of Aruba. Services provided by Setar include: telephone, internet, and mobile voice & data services. Setar is headquartered in Oranjestad.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Telstra is Australia's largest mobile network operator, with national 3G, 4G, and 5G networks providing speeds up to about 3.5 Gbps. Inheriting Australia's national telecommunications infrastructure, Telstra is by a large margin the dominant service provider for rural and regional Australia.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active, Active
IoT: LTE-M, NB-IoT
Vodafone holds Australia's underdog status as the country's third largest mobile network operator. Vodafone Australia operates one of the world's most advanced networks, despite a history of under-performing in some regional areas. Vodafone leads the pack in its IoT offerings, launching Australia's first dedicated NB-IoT network in October 2017 - months before the competition.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active, Build-Out
IoT: NB-IoT
T-Mobile Austria is the second largest Austrian mobile operator and is a 100% owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. Founded in 1996 as Ö-Call and later known as max.mobil, the company underwent a complete takeover by T-Mobile in 2000 to become T-Mobile Austria on 18 April 2002.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active
IoT: NB-IoT
Telia is the largest mobile network operator servicing in Finland. The company was founded in 1998 then as Sonera, however has a history dating as far back as 1917 as state-run Suomen Lennätinlaitos.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active
IoT: NB-IoT
Partner (פרטנר‎) is the second largest mobile network operating servicing Israel. The company was incorporated in September 2007 and began operations in 1999 as Orange Israel which Partner Communications Company Ltd used under licence until a rebranding in 2016.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Pelephone (פלאפון) is a mobile network operating servicing Israel. The company began operations in 1986, the first mobile network to operate in the region. Pelephone was formed a year earlier in 1985 as a joint venture between Motorola and Tadiran after the securing of a government contract to provide telephony services to the region.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Tele2 operates a mobile network in Lithuania. The company began in 1993 as UAB Levi & Kuto and was acquired by Swedish NetCom in 1999 and rebranded to Tele2 in early 2000. Tele2 launched its first GSM services in 2001.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Telia is a European mobile network operator providing services in Lithuania. Telia Lietuva is the only telecommunications company in Lithuania with a full scale offering of fixed and mobile telephony, broadband internet and television services. The company also has a strong presence in the IT sector, providing tailored solutions for local and international businesses.
3G: Shut Down Announced
4G: Active
5G: Build-Out
Spark New Zealand Limited is a supplier of telecommunications and digital services in New Zealand. The company operates through three segments: Spark Home, Mobile & Business; Spark Digital, and Spark Connect.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active
IoT: LoRa, LTE-M
Vodacom is the second largest mobile network operator in South Africa. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodacom Group Limited, a multinational telecommunications company operating in 32 African nations.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active
Sure delivers telecommunication services in the South Atlantic to Ascension Island, Falkland Islands and Saint Helena. Sure provides national and international fixed line, mobile roaming and broadband services as well as data centre and enterprise solutions to consumer and corporate customers.
3G: Not Available
4G: Active
Salt is one of three national mobile network operators in Switzerland. Formerly known as Orange, the company's history dates back to its founding in January 1998. Salt Mobile SA was formerly known as Orange Communications SA and changed its name to Salt Mobile in April 2015. The company was acquired by billionaire Xavier Niel's investment vehicle NJJ Holdings in February 2015.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Planned
Sunrise is the second largest mobile network operator providing telecommunication services in Switzerland. The company was founded in 2000. With ownership previously held by TDC Group, the company became privately held by CVC Capital Partners up until CVC's IPO in 2015. Sunrise Communications Group AG is now publicly traded on the Swiss Exchange.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active
Swisscom Mobile is a mobile network operator providing cellular services in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The company operates as a subsidiary of Swisscom AG, a major telecommunications provider owned by the Swiss Government.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active
IoT: LTE-M, NB-IoT
Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大) is a large telecommunications service provider and mobile network operator in Taiwan. The company was founded in February 1997 as Pacific Cellular Corporation, by the now-defunct Pacific Electric Wire & Cable Co. Ltd (PEWC).
3G: Deactivated
4G: Active
5G: Trialling
IoT: NB-IoT