A mobile phone operator (also wireless carrier) is a telephone company that provides phone services for mobile phone subscribers.

The process of becoming a mobile phone operator within a country usually begins by acquiring a radio spectrum licence from the Government. The precise spectrum obtained does depend on the type of mobile phone technology the operator intends to deploy. For example, a GSM phone will require a GSM frequency.

The Government may allocate spectrum using whichever method it chooses, although the most common methods are a beauty contest, or an auction. Recent allocation of 3G licences in Europe have been sold by auction to the highest bidder.

Another category of mobile phone operator is emerging in some markets called the Mobile Virtual Network Operator or MVNO. As far as the subscriber is concerned, they seem identical to regular mobile phone operators. The critical difference is that they do not own the underlying network, but lease it instead from another incumbent operator in that country.

See also

• Largest mobile phone companies