De eerste mobiele provider speciaal
voor grensbewoners en frequente reizigers

Orange and MVNA partner Transatel target SMEs primarily, with new MVNO deals with fixed line providers Unicom and Axis Telecom, and also with niche operative Catalyst

Orange has signed three new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) contracts, two with fixed line providers to cross-sell own-branded mobile propositions into their customer bases and the third with a niche brand working with students, ethnic minorities and SMEs.

Orange has confirmed a deal with fixed line provider Unicom, as revealed by Mobile News in January. Unicom will sell its SIM-only MVNO offer into its base of 80,000 customers, providing billing for both fixed and mobile services on the same invoice.

It is also working with regional provider Axis Telecom, which is to provide a number of SIM-only deals to its regional base of 14,000 businesses and residential customers.

As well, niche operative Catalyst will provide mobile services through partners for groups such as students, ethnic minorities and SMEs.

All new MVNO deals are products of its relationship with mobile virtual network aggregator (MVNA) Transatel, with which it has set up a partner platform to enable swift establishment of such projects on its network. All are expected to launch shortly.

Orange already has MVNO deals with Mobinet, Lycamobile and IDT Mobile, and also national roaming agreements with 3 and Cable&Wireless in the UK.

Orange UK vice president of wholesale, business development and partnerships Marc Overton (pictured) said: "Orange has very ambitious plans to become the network partner of choice for new and existing MVNOs. This latest news shows that we are well on our way to achieving this and our ambition to have twenty new MVNO's on the Orange network by the end of the year.

"It clearly demonstrates that there are untapped opportunities for telecoms services across business and consumer sectors. Through our partnership with Transatel, we are making it even easier for communities and companies of all sizes to enter the exciting mobile market."

Transatel chief executive Jacques Bonifay said: "We are pleased to announce our first three partnerships signed on behalf of Orange UK. For companies looking to launch their own mobile offering in the UK and also in other European countries, we believe we are the right partner as we broaden the availability, ease and speed with which MVNOs can come to market."