Business ISP Spitfire Signs BT MVNO Deal to Launch UK Mobile Service
Business telecommunications and broadband ISP Spitfire has today announced that they’ve signed a full UK Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement with BT Wholesale, which will enable them to launch mobile products based off EE’s national 4G and 5G network – all integrated with the ISP’s latest core network.
According to Spitfire, the provider’s new “Unified Network” and EE powered “Enhanced Mobile” solutions (i.e. 4G voice, 4G/5G data and IoT connectivity) will aim to deliver first class connectivity, better security, more flexible billing plans and a more efficient network architecture.
Under this approach, the ISP states that customers should be able to obtain a single unified network across their entire mobile and fixed line estate, for an end-to-end solution without the need for data to traverse the public internet (i.e. better security and manageability). The requirement for IPSec VPNs or similar networking security technology is potentially avoided, allowing for less equipment configuration time. Customers can also specify a private APN network and bring their own IP address range.
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Harry Bowlby, MD of Spitfire Network Services, said:
“This new agreement is extremely exciting for Spitfire. By adding Enhanced Mobile to our service offering, we complete the jigsaw by enabling our customers and partners to benefit from easy access to one unified network solution for all of their connectivity needs. In conjunction they will continue to benefit from our experienced and highly trained UK based team providing the best levels of business class customer service.”
The new Enhanced Mobile and Spitfire Unified Network solutions are due to become commercially available during autumn 2023.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook and Linkedin.
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Quite a few new EE MVNOs recently, probably BAU, but could be a way to avoid scrutiny from Ofcom as EE absorbs BT Mobile & Plusnet. Correct me if I’m wrong, but they have nearly a third of the market now
BT Mobile & Plusnet are MVNO’s on BT’s EE mobile phone network so I don’t see why OFCOM would have an issue with consolidation of brands under its own umbrella.
this article lists EE MVNO’s as at march 2023, there’s quite a few that are non BT brands
https://www.4g.co.uk/news/networks-using-ee/
@Chris When they were separate, they were competing in different ways. Now as one option, that’s less options. You are right, Ofcom would probably not care (they’re busy with Voda & 3)
Thanks for the article, was only aware of 1p, but wow there are a lot more.
Ofcom are only likely to care about EE’s wholesale arm and ensuring that its pricing is fair and reasonable, just as it does with BT Wholesale and Openreach.
EE seem to have recently attracted several new MVNOs as well as luring big established brands like Lyca – all of who seem to be able to offer more attractive pricing than EE themselves, depending on your use case – so it seems to be working just fine.
I would also expect that many BT/Plusnet mobile customers actually had it in a bundle, especially for those who had the BT Halo double data offer. IIRC EE are offering attractive prices to customers who are being moved over.