Press Release
Global mobile telecoms provider Cellhire plc – cellhire.co.uk – is to launch its own eSIM-based MVNO [Mobile Virtual Network Operator] in early Q1 next year – providing innovative data and voice solutions to the company’s B2B customers in France – prior to launching a global MVNO service, the UK included, in Q2. During September, Cellhire reached a major milestone in that move with the first deployment of the company’s own eSIM profiles on its developing France MVNO network.
“Becoming an MVNO is a natural step for Cellhire because of its long history as a leading mobile telecoms provider around the world,” says Cellhire Group Technology Director Peter Whelerton.
The implementation of eSIM technology versus the logistical constraints of physical SIM cards will future-proof Cellhire’s global distribution network and deliver over-the-air changes. The success of this achievement paves the way for a Q1 2021 market launch, where the company will deliver the next evolution of competitive domestic and roaming airtime products.
Fourteen months in the making, the MVNO project cements a long-standing MNO relationship in France that has enabled Cellhire to deliver market-beating voice and data SIMs across Europe.
Says Whelerton, “Cellhire has built its own core network and has a French MNC [Mobile Network Code] and IMSI [International Mobile Subscriber Identity] range. The Full MVNO is the foundation for a forward-looking product range. Cellhire engineers have developed an innovative eSIM platform capable of delivering a bespoke combination of domestic, roaming and sponsored roaming IMSIs over-the-air to a customer’s SIM to deliver the most cost-effective solution.
“It’s a product that provides cutting-edge delivery methods to leverage the power of Cellhire’s 30 plus years in the telecoms industry, MNO [Mobile Network Operator] relationship and global reach. Innovatively delivered over-the-air, it is environmentally friendly.”
Cellhire has carved out a niche providing SIMs capable of very large data volumes to business customers and for use in mobile broadband devices. As these devices modernise, using EUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) SIM chipsets capable of receiving an over-the-air profile, this project makes it possible to update customer needs remotely.
Total control
Cellhire Chief Executive Officer, Martyn Stevens, says, “The full package gives Cellhire total control over the commercial offerings, tariffing and real-time control. The latter is vitally important in an area where Cellhire already excels, that of big data IoT.
“Traditionally IoT devices use tiny amounts of data but there is a growing number of IoT devices that require much larger bandwidth, with different control mechanisms, which is where Cellhire’s Atlas Billing and SIM Control platform come in,” he says, adding, “Fully featured and entirely backed by a customer-accessible API, the aim to extend even further the real-time control aspects as Cellhire will have total real-time visibility of all data and calls as it flows through its core network.”
The company’s international MVNO will utilise a multi-IMSI, eSIM configuration using roaming IMSIs in Q2 2021. To achieve maximum global network reach, Cellhire is working with new and existing network partners to add more MNOs globally.
