Launch a UK MVNO — Ofcom compliance made simple.
You don't need an Ofcom licence or registration to launch a UK MVNO — that regime doesn't exist here. What you do need is a compliant company, a Host Network Operator Agreement, and the General Conditions and ADR enrollment that apply to every UK communications provider from day one. We handle all of it.
Start your MVNO launch — from £549 →Why now is a good time to launch a UK MVNO
The same forces driving MVNO growth in the US apply in the UK, with a materially lighter regulatory bar to clear:
- eSIM adoption — instant digital activation has collapsed the old multi-week SIM-fulfillment problem, opening the door to launching a mobile brand with no physical retail footprint.
- Travel and digital-nomad eSIMs — one of the fastest-growing MVNO categories, with no contract, no store visit, and no physical inventory.
- Niche and affinity brands — fintechs, fitness brands, and loyalty programmes bundling connectivity into an existing customer relationship.
- Connected devices beyond the phone — wearables, asset trackers, and IoT sensors are a second, fast-growing line of demand.
- Host-network wholesale economics keep improving — UK MNOs and MVNEs continue to compete for MVNO wholesale volume.
None of that changes what actually applies once you launch. A low technical barrier to entry is exactly the environment where compliance gets skipped — until a complaint or an audit makes it expensive to fix after the fact.
What actually applies to a UK MVNO
- UK company formation — you'll need a UK Ltd company before a host network will sign a wholesale agreement with you.
- General Conditions C1–C7 — pricing/contract transparency, information publication, billing, accessibility, Calling Line ID, and switching, binding automatically from day one.
- End-of-contract notifications — a reminder 10–40 days before a customer's minimum term ends, then an annual reminder once they're out of contract.
- ADR scheme enrollment (GC C4) — CISAS or the Communications Ombudsman, mandatory before onboarding any residential or SME customer. Not required for a wholesale MVNO/MVNA selling to other businesses rather than end users.
- Host Network Operator Agreement — a private commercial contract with an MNO (EE, VodafoneThree, or Virgin Media O2 — Vodafone and Three merged in the last consolidation round) or an MVNE, entirely separate from Ofcom compliance.
- Numbering — most new MVNOs launch on numbers sublet from their host network; applying to Ofcom directly is optional, for later scale.
UK MNO/MVNE partners that support IoT and general mobility resale
The right host depends on whether you're launching a consumer/enterprise mobile brand, an IoT connectivity product, or both. Some real, active options in the UK market:
1GLOBAL
London-headquartered MVNE (formerly Truphone), network access via EE. Covers both general mobility (enterprise/consumer eSIM roaming, 190+ countries) and IoT connectivity — the closest single fit if you need both.
Gamma
UK B2B telecom group operating as an MVNA on the merged VodafoneThree network. General mobility/UCaaS-focused MVNO enablement, not an IoT specialist.
Wireless Logic
UK-headquartered (Theale) IoT connectivity leader with an MVNO wholesale route via BT. Best fit if IoT is the primary product and general mobility is secondary.
Eseye
Guildford-based global IoT connectivity platform. IoT-first — confirm directly if general consumer/enterprise mobility is part of their current offering before assuming it.
FloLive
Global MVNE/IoT connectivity platform, a top-10 IoT leader with UK/EU presence. IoT-first, multi-carrier core network.
KORE Wireless
Global MVNO/IoT platform spanning 200+ countries, US-headquartered but serves the UK market. Multi-carrier IoT plus device connectivity management.
This is a starting point for your own host-network due diligence, not an endorsement or referral relationship — confirm current coverage, commercial terms, and IoT/mobility capability directly with each provider before signing a Host Network Operator Agreement.
UK Telecoms Compliance & Launch Package
Everything to launch, in one order — £549
UK company formation (Willow package), first confirmation statement, VAT & PAYE registration, a free UK bank account referral, the Ofcom GC compliance pack, and ADR scheme enrollment. Saves £105 versus buying separately. Tell us you're an MVNO in the intake and we tailor the compliance pack's numbering and Host Network Operator Agreement guidance to your model.
Start the full package →Already got some of this done? Order it a la carte
UK Company Formation
£59 + £107 CH fee — Willow package resale, year-one registered office included.
Order →Ofcom GC Compliance Pack
£249 — drafted contracts and policies covering C1–C7, plus numbering and Host Network Operator Agreement guidance.
Order →ADR Scheme Enrollment
£149 — CISAS or Communications Ombudsman enrollment, mandatory before onboarding residential/SME customers.
Order →VAT & PAYE Registration
£79 each — HMRC charges no fee to register; this is our service fee only.
Order →First Confirmation Statement
£39 + £55 CH fee — prepaid now, filed when due (~12 months after incorporation).
Order →UK Bank Account Referral
Free — our Wise/Airwallex introduction, the same providers we use for our own UK banking.
Order →Why MVNOs work with us
- We correct the "Ofcom registration" misconception up front — you're never sold a filing that doesn't exist.
- One intake covers company formation, GC compliance, and ADR enrollment together — you're not re-explaining your business to three different providers.
- We flag ADR mandatoriness based on your actual customer model — residential/SME-facing vs. wholesale-only — rather than a one-size-fits-all bundle.
About Performance West Ltd
Performance West Ltd is a professional compliance consultancy specialising in UK company launch and Ofcom General Conditions compliance for MVNOs, VoIP providers, and telecoms resellers. We're not Ofcom, Companies House, HMRC, or any ADR scheme — we prepare and submit on your behalf.