MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) — Definition

An MVNO, or Mobile Virtual Network Operator, is a carrier that rents capacity from a larger network instead of owning its own towers.

Brands like Cricket, Mint, Visible and Straight Talk are MVNOs. They sell service that runs on AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon's towers, usually at a lower price, sometimes with trade-offs like lower data priority when a tower gets busy.

In practice

Knowing an MVNO's parent network helps when something breaks, because its settings often resemble the host network's. The catch to watch for is data deprioritisation in congested areas. Our guide on how MVNOs work weighs the trade-offs if you're thinking about switching.