 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "List of mobile virtual network operators in the United Kingdom" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(February 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
This is a list of notablemobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in the United Kingdom, which lease wireless telephone and dataspectrum from the major carriersEE,O2,Three andVodafone for resale.
| Brand | Host network | Wireless technology | Voice over LTE | WiFi calling | eSIM | Visual Voicemail | HD voice[1] | MVNE | MVNO type | Start date | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | 3G | 4G | 5G | |||||||||||
| 1pMobile | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Direct with MNO | PAYG | 2016[2] | |
| Asda Mobile | Vodafone | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[3] | No | No | Yes | Direct with MNO | PAYM/PAYG | 2007[4] | |
| CMLink | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Transatel | PAYM | 2017[5] | ByChina Mobile. Intended primarily for theChinese diaspora and Chineseinternational students. |
| CTExcel | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Transatel | PAYG | 2012[6] as CTExcelbiz | ByChina Telecom. Intended primarily for theChinese diaspora and Chineseinternational students. |
| Ecotalk | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[7] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Transatel | PAYM | 2018[8] | |
| giffgaff | O2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[9] | Yes[10] | Yes[10] | Yes | Yes | Yes (not EVS) | Direct with MNO | PAYM/PAYG | 2009[11] | MVNO indirectly run by host network. |
| Honest Mobile | Three(Smart SIM uses all four networks) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | PAYM | 2018 | ||
| iD Mobile | Three | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[12] | No | Yes | Direct with MNO | PAYM/PAYG | 2015[13] | |
| Lebara | Vodafone | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | PAYM/PAYG | 2007[14] | ||
| Lyca Mobile | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Direct with MNO | PAYM/PAYG | 2006[15] | |
| Sky Mobile | O2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[16] | No | Direct with MNO | PAYM | 2016[17] | |
| SLICE | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes[18] | No[19] | Yes | No | No | PAYG | 2025 | MVNO only offers eSIMs. | |
| SMARTY | Three | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | PAYM/PAYG | 2017[20] | MVNO run by host network. | |
| spusu | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Direct with MNO | PAYM | 2023[21] | Uses their ownPLMN (234-40), self-hostedSIP IMS and core network infrastructure. |
| Superdrug Mobile | Three | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Direct with MNO | PAYG | 2018[22] | MVNO run by host network (Three)'s parent companyHutchison. |
| Talkmobile | Vodafone | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[23] | No | Yes | MVNO run by host network | PAYM | 2007[24] | |
| Tesco Mobile | O2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (only on PAYM) | No | Yes (EVS only on PAYM) | Direct with MNO | PAYM/PAYG | 2003[25] | |
| Your Co-op | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Transatel[26] | PAYM | Previously trading asThe Phone Co-op[27] | |
| 1GLOBAL | EE | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[28] | Yes | Yes | PAYG | 2006 | Acquired Truphone | |
| Utility Warehouse | EE | Yes | No | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | PAYM | 2000[29] | ||
| VOXI | Vodafone | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[30] | Yes | Direct with MNO | PAYG | 2017[31] | MVNO run by host network, directly linked in with host's core systems. |
| Brand | Host network | Defunct date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews & Arnold | Three | 30 April 2013[32] | Ceased operations when their upstream partner"pulled the plug".[33] |
| Blyk | Orange | 26 August 2009[34] | Ceased operations. |
| BT Mobile | EE | 2023 | BT Group discontinued the brand. |
| Easymobile | T-Mobile | 13 December 2006[35] | Ceased operations. |
| Econet Mobile | EE | 20 July 2015[36] | Ceased UK operations. |
| Family Mobile | EE | 31 August 2015[37] | Ceased operations. FormerlyIKEA Family Mobile. |
| FreedomPop | Three | ? | Ceased UK operations. |
| Fresh Mobile | T-Mobile | 19 March 2010[38] | Ceased operations. Existing customers were encouraged to move to the sister network,Talkmobile. |
| GT Mobile | O2 | July 2016 | Existing customers were consolidated in the sister brand,Lycamobile.[39] Full name is Gnanam Telecom. |
| KCOM Mobile | O2 | 2019 | Ceased operations. |
| LIFE Mobile | EE | 29 November 2016[40] | Acquired byPlusnet. |
| Mobile by Sainsbury's | Vodafone | 15 January 2016[41] | Ceased operations. |
| Ovivo Mobile | Vodafone | 19 March 2014[42] | Ceased operations. |
| Plusnet Mobile | EE | January 2024 | Ceased operations; stopped accepting new customers from March 2023.[43][44] |
| Post Office Mobile | EE | 8 August 2016[45][46] | Ceased operations. |
| RSPCA Mobile | EE | October 2014 | Ceased operations. Operated as a white-label under Shebang.[47] |
| TalkTalk Mobile | Vodafone | 2018[48] | Ceased operations. |
| The People's Operator (TPO Mobile) | Three | 26 February 2019[49] | Entered administration. Customers were encouraged to move toSMARTY.[49] |
| Utilita Mobile | EE | Approximately 2022[citation needed] | |
| Virgin Mobile | O2 | 31 August 2023[50] | Stopped accepting new customers August 2023. All customers moved to O2 by December 2023.[51] |
The adoption ofeSIM (embedded SIM) technology in the United Kingdom has expanded in the 2020s, allowing mobile users to activatecellular service without the need for a physicalSIM card. Major network operators, includingEE,Vodafone,O2, andThree, have implemented eSIM support across their postpaid plans, with select prepaid options also available. This development aligns with the broader global trend of transitioning towards digital SIM technology. In addition to the major carriers, several mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), such asgiffgaff,Lyca Mobile, andTesco Mobile, offer eSIM services.
All Talkmobile plans are available on eSIM for use with compatible devices. You can choose a physical SIM or an eSIM at checkout. To change your current Talkmobile SIM to an eSIM, please contact our Help Team via Webchat or by phone.