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.
The Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) is Afghanistan's first wireless communications company and the founder of Afghanistan's wireless communications market.
Launched in 2002 by Mr. Ehsan Bayat, chairman of The Bayat Group, AWCC provides LTE, UMTS, and GSM, voice, data, internet and mobile payment services to more than five million business and consumer clients, located in all of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Etisalat Afghanistan is 100% owned subsidiary of Etisalat UAE. Etisalat is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world and the leading operator in the Middle East and Africa, headquartered in the UAE.
Etisalat Afghanistan started its operations in Afghanistan in August 2007. The company is the fastest growing mobile phone company in Afghanistan.
3G: Active
4G: Not Available
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
ALBtelecom Sh.a provides fixed telephony and Internet services to individuals and businesses in Albania. In February 2013, ALBtelecom acquired Eagle Mobile, turning it into a brand within ALBtelecom, which has since been dissolved.
3G: Active
4G: Active
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
Optimum Telecom Algeria provides wireless communication services in Algeria and internationally under the Djezzy brand. The company was formerly known as Orascom Telecom Algeria SPA. Optimum Telecom Algeria operates as a subsidiary of Global Telecom Holding S.A.E.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Algerie Telecom Mobilis S.p.A., trading as Mobilis, is Algeria's first mobile carrier and has been operating since 2003. The company is based in Algiers, Algeria. Algerie Telecom Mobilis S.p.A. operates as a subsidiary of Algerie Telecom SPA.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Ooredoo Algeria is a mobile network operator servicing Algeria. The company began operations in 2004 as Nedjma, rebranding to Ooredoo Algeria in November 2013.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Bluesky Communications was the first company to launch in American Samoa on July 10, 1999. From its beginnings as a mobile phone company, Bluesky then expanded to also being an internet service provider.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Created in 1975, the Andorra Telecom is the public (state owned) operator that manages and operates exclusively in Andorra, telecommunications services usually fixed telephony, mobile telephony, transmission data, Internet and other services.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Planned
Movicel was originally created in 2003 as a subsidiary of the state owned Angola Telecom. In 2010, 80% of the company's capital was sold to various private companies, the remaining 20% remain in the hands of the state owned companies Angola Telecom and ENCTA.
3G: Active
4G: Active
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
Digicel Group launched its Digicel Anguilla network in December 2005. Digicel Group launched in Jamaica in 2001, and has since expanded rapidly spaning across 31 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific.
3G: Active
4G: Active
FLOW Anguilla operates as a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Communications Ltd, a UK based telecommunications multinational which has been purchased by Liberty Global. The FLOW brand operates in 13 markets in the Caribbean region.
3G: Active
4G: Active
Digicel Group launched its Digicel Antigua & Barbuda network in March 2006. Digicel Group launched in Jamaica in 2001, and has since expanded rapidly spaning across 31 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific.
3G: Active
4G: Active
FLOW (previously LIME) Antigua and Barbuda operates as a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Communications Ltd, a UK based telecommunications multinational which has been purchased by Liberty Global. The FLOW brand operates in 13 markets in the Caribbean region.
3G: Active
4G: Active
AMX Argentina, S.A., a mobile network operator, provides wireless telecommunication services through its Claro brand (previously known as CTI Móvil). It offers wireless, fixed- line voice, broadband, and Pay TV services and products.
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
Movistar Argentina is the mobile telephone unit of Telefónica Argentina, the Telefónica Group subsidiary operating in Argentina.
3G: Active
4G: Active
IoT: LTE-M, NB-IoT
Armenia Telephone Company CJSC (ArmenTel), trading as Beeline, is the largest telecommunication company in Armenia. The company began as a state-owned entity in 1995 but later purchased by Russian-owned VimpelCom Group of Companies.
3G: Active
4G: Active
VivaCell received a license for the commencement of its operations in 2004. In September 2007, Russian mobile network operator Mobile TeleSystems ("MTS") – the largest mobile operator in CIS – acquired 80% of the company’s shares. In 2008, VivaCell was co-branded and changed its name to VivaCell-MTS, and later changed to MTS Armenia in April 2017.
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
Digicel Group launched its Digicel Aruba network in July 2003, with its head office in Oranjestad. Digicel Group launched in Jamaica in 2001, and has since expanded rapidly spanning across 31 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific.
3G: Active
4G: Not Available
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
Optus is Australia's second largest mobile network operator, providing high speed connectivity over its 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.
Optus is currently making a significant push into regional and rural areas with its $1 billion regional Australian network investment program announced in 2018.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active, Active
IoT: NB-IoT
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
A1 Telekom Austria (A1) is a major Austrian fixed and mobile network operator. It has been operating commercially since 1994 and in testing since 1992. It launched under the name Mobilkom Austria. After the merger with Telekom Austria in July 2010 it operates under the new name of A1 Telekom Austria. A1 Telekom Austria is a 100% subsidiary of Telekom Austria.
3G: Active
4G: Active
5G: Active
IoT: NB-IoT