A Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (or MVNE) is a company that provides services to MVNOs,  such as billing, network element provisioning, administration, operations, support of base station subsystems and operations support systems, and provision of back end network elements, to enable provision of mobile network services like cellular phone connectivity.

A MVNE does not have a relationship with end-user customers. Instead, an MVNE provides infrastructure and services to enable MVNOs  to offer services and have a relationship with end-user customers. MVNEs offer the ability for an MVNO to focus on their core strengths of brand, customer loyalty and marketing and leave the back-end enablement to MVNEs. They also have shared risk-reward arrangements with the MVNO with various kinds of revenue sharing models, usually tied to the number of subscribers that the MVNO has projected in their business plan.

An MVNE needs a best-in class OSS/BSS applications to provide their customers (see OSS click here)

MVNO

A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a company that provides mobile phone service but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service. A company that does have frequency allocation(s) and all the required infrastructure to run an independent mobile network is known simply as a Mobile Network Operator (MNO). MVNOs are roughly equivalent to the "switchless resellers" of the traditional landline telephone market. Switchless resellers buy minutes wholesale from the large long distance companies and retail them to their customers.

Successful MVNO's are those that position their operations so that customers do not distinguish any significant differences in service or network performance yet offer some special affinity to their customers. Unlike simple resellers, who often have little or no brand recognition, MVNO's are typically well known, well positioned companies, with a good deal of marketing clout.

Successful MVNO's will also be those that have ample financial resources and sufficient agreements with existing operators to provide a good service coverage area. Additionally, well-diversified independent MVNO's can offer a product mix that incumbent mobile operators can not match. For example, grocery store MVNO's could offer a package of MOU's and groceries.