IPA IP 2021 Question 71
A question IPA Japan published in 令和3年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問71, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
What is the name for a business operator that borrows the infrastructure of mobile communication services from another company and provides mobile communication services with smartphones and SIM cards under its own brand?
Explanation
MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) — a carrier that owns no radio network of its own but rents one from a network operator and sells mobile service under its own name.
A mobile network operator (MNO) builds and runs the base stations and core network and holds the radio spectrum. An MVNO borrows that infrastructure wholesale from an MNO and offers its own branded plans, SIM cards and often smartphones to customers. Because it does not have to build or maintain a network, it can offer cheaper plans; its customers' traffic still travels over the host MNO's network.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) ISP — an Internet Service Provider connects customers to the Internet; it is not defined by renting a mobile network to sell its own mobile service
- •(b) MNP — Mobile Number Portability lets a subscriber keep the same phone number when moving to another carrier; it is a scheme, not a kind of operator
- •(d) OSS — Open Source Software, software whose source code is published for anyone to use, modify and redistribute; unrelated to mobile carriers
Key rule: An MNO owns the mobile network; an MVNO rents it from an MNO and sells service under its own brand.
Networks · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.