List of mobile virtual network operators in the United Kingdom

This is a list of notable mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in the United Kingdom, which lease wireless telephone and data spectrum from the major carriers EE, O2, Three and Vodafone for resale.

Active operators

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]
Boshhh	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes			Yes				PAYM
CMLink	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Transatel	PAYM	2017[5]	By China Mobile. Intended primarily for the Chinese diaspora and Chinese international students.
CTExcel	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes		PAYG	2012[6] as CTExcelbiz	By China Telecom. Intended primarily for the Chinese diaspora and Chinese international 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[11]	Yes	No	Yes (not EVS)	Direct with MNO	PAYM/PAYG	2009[12]	MVNO indirectly run by host network.
Honest Mobile	Three	No	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes[13]	No	Yes		PAYM	2019[14]
iD Mobile	Three	No	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes[15]	No	Yes	Direct with MNO	PAYM/PAYG	2015[16]
iQ Mobile	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes			Yes				PAYM
Lebara	Vodafone	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes		PAYM/PAYG	2007[17]
Lycamobile	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Direct with MNO	PAYM/PAYG	2006[18]
Mozillion	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes[19]	Yes	No	No		PAYM/PAYG	2024[20]
Now Mobile	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		PAYM/PAYG	2010[21]
Onebill telecom	Three[22]	No	No	Yes	Yes							PAYM		TBC - details likely same as Three
Popit	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes		PAYM		Seems to have been taken over in 2025 by Boshhh, which it is now run by.
RWG Mobile	EE/Three	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		PAYM/PAYG	2015[23]	EE coverage on SIMs bearing a Now mobile sticker, Three coverage on Gamma SIMs. Table details concern Now SIMs.
Silux	Three			Yes	Yes							PAYM		TBC - details likely same as Three
Sky Mobile	O2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes[24]	No	Direct with MNO	PAYM	2016[25]
Slice Mobile	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No[26]	No		PAYG	2024[27]	UK's only eSIM only network. Offers free trial.[28] - Owned By Lyca boss Allirajah Subaskaran's company Paraspara.
SMARTY	Three	No	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes		PAYM/PAYG	2017[29]	MVNO run by host network.
spusu	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Direct with MNO	PAYM	2023[30]	Uses their own PLMN (234-40), self-hosted SIP IMS and core network infrastructure.
Superdrug Mobile	Three	No	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Direct with MNO	PAYG	2018[31]	MVNO run by host network (Three)'s parent company Hutchison.
TalkHome	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Direct with MNO	PAYM/PAYG	2012
Talkmobile	Vodafone	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes		PAYM	2007[32]
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[33]
Your Co-op	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Transatel[34]	PAYM		Previously trading as The Phone Co-op[35]
1GLOBAL	EE	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes[36]	Yes	Yes		PAYG	2006	Acquired Truphone
Utility Warehouse / Telecom Plus	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Partial	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes		PAYM	2000[37]
VOXI	Vodafone	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes[38]	Yes	Direct with MNO	PAYG	2017[39]	MVNO run by host network, directly linked in with host's core systems.
Yayzi	Three	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes		PAYM	2025
Zoiko	EE	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No		PAYM

Defunct, merged and acquired operators

Brand	Host network	Defunct date	Notes
AfriMobile	Three	13 October 2020	Dissolved 13 October 2020
Andrews & Arnold	Three	30 April 2013[40]	Ceased operations when their upstream partner "pulled the plug".[41] Later relaunched on O2.
Blyk	Orange	26 August 2009[42]	Ceased operations.
Boy Better Know Mobile	Three	?
Delight Mobile	EE	30 November 2017[43]	Existing customers were consolidated in the sister brand, Vectone Mobile.
Easymobile	T-Mobile	13 December 2006[44]	Ceased operations.
Econet Mobile	EE	20 July 2015[45]	Ceased UK operations.
Extreme Connect	O2	?
Family Mobile	EE	31 August 2015[46]	Ceased operations.
FreedomPop	Three	?	Ceased UK operations.
Fresh Mobile	T-Mobile	19 March 2010[47]	Ceased operations. Existing customers were encouraged to move to the sister network, Talkmobile.
KCOM Mobile	O2	2019
GT Mobile	O2	July 2016	Existing customers were consolidated in the sister brand, Lycamobile.[48]Full name is Gnanam Telecom.
iCard Mobile	?	Approximately 2017	Last instances of website working.
IDT Mobile	Orange	?
Kontakt Mobile	Vodafone	15 December 2016[49]	Ceased operations.
LIFE Mobile	EE	29 November 2016[50]	Acquired by Plusnet.
Mobile by Sainsbury's	Vodafone	15 January 2016[51]	Ceased operations.
Our Telecom	EE	16 August 2016[52]	Dissolved.
Ovivo Mobile	Vodafone	19 March 2014[53]	Ceased operations.
PG Mobile	Three	2016[54]	Ceased operations.
Plusnet Mobile	EE	January 2024	Stopped accepting new customers from March 2023,[55] will close later in 2024.[56] BT Group axed the brand
Post Office Mobile	EE	8 August 2016[57][58]	Ceased operations.
Priyo Mobile	EE	5 November 2013[59]	Ceased operations.
RSPCA Mobile	EE	October 2014	Ceased operations. Operated as a white-label under Shebang.[60]
Shebang	Three	2015[61]	Acquired by PG Mobile.
Simple Call Mobile	EE	31 October 2014[62]	Ceased operations.
Talktalk Mobile	Vodafone	2018[63]	Ceased operations.
The People's Operator (TPO Mobile)	Three	26 February 2019[64]	Entered administration. Customers were encouraged to move to SMARTY.[64]
ToTheMoon	EE	March 2023 [65]	SIM Orders stopped being processed and website became disfunctional.
Torica Mobile	?	Between 2013 [66]and 2020[67]	Website shows a copyright date of 2013, however the Facebook profile shows posts as late as 2020.
U2i Mobile	EE	11 July 2017[68]	Ceased operations.
Vectone Mobile	EE	24 October 2023	Ceased operations.
Virgin Mobile	O2	31 August 2023[69]	Stopped accepting new customers August 2023. All customers moved to O2 by December 2023.[70]
Vizz Africa	Vodafone	?	Ceased operations.
White Mobile	EE	5 October 2022	Customers told to move to Moblox, which entered administration in April 2023.[71][72]
Zevvle	EE	December 2023	Ceased operations.[73]

eSIM networks

The adoption of eSIM (embedded SIM) technology in the United Kingdom has expanded in the 2020s, allowing mobile users to activate cellular service without the need for a physical SIM card. Major network operators, including EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three, 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 as giffgaff, Lyca Mobile, and Tesco Mobile, offer eSIM services. International providers, including Maya, Airalo and Ohayu,^[74] also facilitate eSIM access for travellers and expatriates. The adoption of eSIM technology has contributed to increased flexibility for consumers, particularly those who require dual-SIM functionality^[75] or frequent international connection changes.

See also

• List of mobile network operators in Europe § United Kingdom
• Telecommunications in the United Kingdom