Telecom North America has commercially launched the ‘multi-IMSI roaming hub’, an international roaming services trading platform which allows mobile network operators (MNOs) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) around the world to sell and buy roaming services to and from one another. The platform allows established MNOs to resell their outbound international roaming agreements to other members of the hub, at no CAPEX expense, while full MVNOs can resell services in their home countries to hub members. A press release adds that by using the multi-IMSI hub, operators can increase their roaming footprint, or reduce their outbound roaming costs by accessing lower rates for outbound roaming in dozens of countries, which in turn allows them to provide more attractive roaming packages to their subscribers in order to compete more effectively against other MNOs and MVNOs in their home markets. MNOs and MVNOs from North America, Europe and the Middle East have already been trading services on the hub during a pre-launch phase. ‘Attractive roaming offers are often key to gaining and retaining the lucrative business customer segment which roams heavily and generates the highest ARPUs,’ according to Jean Gottschalk, president of Telecom North America, adding that ‘there is an increasing need from the industry to optimise outbound roaming costs for the benefit of consumers.’
The service is also available to CDMA operators thanks to interstandard interworking capabilities built into the hub.
More information can be found at http://www.multiimsiroaminghub.com.