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Home  News Virtual Mobile Operator for Cheaper Calls in Macedonia
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Virtual Mobile Operator for Cheaper Calls in Macedonia |
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2.11.2006. |
Apart from third mobile operator, the so called virtual mobile operators can significantly decrease the impulse price, experts recommend.
More operators, including virtual operators is one of the preconditions for healthy competition in mobile telephony that will result in decreased prices. Apart from third mobile operator, the so called virtual mobile operators can significantly decrease the impulse price, experts recommend.
Virtual operator does not create own network, but uses the networks of the current operators at strictly defined conditions and prices. Therefore, it does not have high initial expenses and can offer competitive price immediately.
“There are two ways of introducing mobile operators in Macedonia. The first one is the new operator or operators to build their networks, as predicted in the current tender announced by the Government. The second way is the new operator or operators to sign contract with the current operators to use their networks. Therefore, the future operator can start sooner, since it does not have to build new network. Virtual operators might be good solution for Macedonia, not as a substitute, but as an addition to the third mobile operator,” said Ton De Liefde, head of the team for technical assistance to the communications sector in Macedonia, financed by the European Agency for Reconstruction.
Virtual mobile operators function in several ways. The simplest way is to act as resellers of the network operator. This means that all the technical and administrative functions are performed by the network operator. The other option is virtual mobile operators to use only the base stations (antennas) of the network operator, and everything else to be done by them.
“For the clients it looks like the virtual mobile operator is completely independent. At their mobile phones’ displays they see the name of the virtual mobile operator, and not the name of the basic network. Usually, these virtual mobile operators start as service providers, and then they add more functions to their portfolio. This allows them to develop their own services,” added De Liefde.
According to him, there are many examples of virtual mobile operators in the EU member countries. In his country, Holland, there are four network operators and 20 virtual mobile operators. In some cases network operators establish virtual mobile operator targeting specific target group of users. In Germany there is an operator targeting the big Turkish community, but it is owned by E-Plus, the third mobile operator. In Holland, the KPN mobile operator is considering the idea to establish third mobile operator targeting young people.
Marjan Blazhevski
Source: Dnevnik
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