The telecommunications company Finetwork has taken a decisive step in its trajectory by becoming a full-fledged Mobile Virtual Operator (MVO), leaving behind its role as a white label under Vodafone’s infrastructure. This change, formalized on September 2nd, marks a significant milestone for Finetwork, which now manages its own numbers directly and assumes full responsibility for its mobile phone services.
Finetwork, which started in 2019 as a reseller of mobile services provided by Vodafone, has evolved in recent years. Initially, the necessary infrastructure to operate was provided by Vodafone Enabler, but after the acquisition of the latter by Vodafone in 2022, Finetwork began to depend directly on Vodafone for coverage, billing, and provision of SIMs. Now, as an MVO provider, the company operates more autonomously, although it continues to use Vodafone’s network for its services.
A 10-year agreement and access to Vodafone’s 5G network
With its new status, Finetwork has signed a long-term agreement with Vodafone, extending for the next 10 years, allowing it to continue using the British company’s network. This agreement not only ensures service continuity for customers but also guarantees Finetwork’s access to Vodafone’s 5G network, positioning the company to offer higher service quality and faster connection speeds.
Changes and advantages for Finetwork customers
One of the most significant changes for Finetwork customers is that the numbering of their lines is now under the direct management of the Alicante-based company, no longer belonging to Vodafone. Since September, Finetwork has its own portability routing prefix (NRN) and has joined the Association of Operators for Mobile Portability (AOPM), responsible for managing the central portability node in Spain.
The migration of mobile lines, affecting 1.2 million customers, began at the end of September and will continue until January 2025. Daily, around 20,000 lines are transferred from Vodafone to Finetwork through the central portability node, in a process aimed at minimizing service disruption for users.
Temporary incident in the portability node
On Tuesday, October 22nd, the central portability node experienced a brief incident that halted number transfers for a few hours. Although the service has been restored, it has not been confirmed whether the issue was related to the massive migration of Finetwork lines. However, the company has reported that the migration process is taking place without major interruptions for its customers.
No changes in SIMs and user experience
Despite changes in line management and ownership, Finetwork customers will not see any alterations in their daily service. Operating under the MVO provider model, Finetwork will continue to use SIM cards with Vodafone Enabler’s MNC network code, allowing users to maintain the same level of connectivity and access without needing to change their current SIM cards.
This move by Finetwork represents a solid step towards its consolidation as an independent operator in the Spanish telecommunications market, demonstrating its ability to offer robust and autonomous services to its customers. With its recent access to the 5G network and direct management of its numbering, the company is positioned to compete on equal terms with other virtual mobile operators in the country, ensuring stable and quality service for its users.
Source: BandaAncha