Sharing of the core network is technically possible. However, core network sharing does raise some commercial concerns. The core network performs several functions in areas essential to service performance, such as billing. The core network also contains a large amount of confidential information on the operator’s business. These matters can complicate sharing the core network. There are, however, other ways to share the core network, such as national roaming, or through a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) structure. In addition, with the emergence of so-called next-generation core networks, in which switching and the control/service functionalities are physically separated, network sharing may move into the domain of core network switching while enabling service differentiation and confidentiality.
National roaming
National roaming refers to an arrangement among operators to use each other’s networks to provide services in geographic areas where they have no coverage. Such arrangements effectively multiply any one carrier’s ability to cover the entire country, without actually having deploying infrastructure everywhere. There are several options for the geographic division of a country for the purpose of national roaming. One common method is to assign different cities, provinces or regions to different operators. For more information on roaming arrangements, please see the Practice Note, “National Roaming”. A link to this Practice Note is set out below.
Wholesale mobile access: Mobile virtual network operators
Broadly speaking, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are entities that provide mobile services to end-user customers but do not have their own radio spectrum; in some cases, MVNOs also do not have all the infrastructure necessary to provide mobile telephone services. MVNOs offer services to their customers by reselling wholesale minutes that they have purchased from a mobile network operator (MNO). Many MVNOs have backbone and back-office operations (including a billing and identification system) and only require use of the mobile operator’s access (or “last mile”) network. These MVNOs thus avoid having to build out end-to-end mobile networks. One form of MVNO, known as a “mobile service provider,” operates without any network facilities at all, simply buying and reselling minutes to their end users. For more information on MVNOs, please see the Practice Note entitled “Mobile Virtual Network Operators”. A link to this Practice Note is set out below.