Single wholesale networks (SWNs) once seemed like a “pretty neat idea”. Those who backed the concept claimed it would enable mobile coverage to be achieved everywhere, even reaching those parts of the country where mobile operators feared to tread (as there was no money to be made).

Sadly, things don’t seem to have worked out that way. Almost everywhere that SWNs have been tried, things just don’t seem to have worked out.

Poland has abandoned its plan to adopt the wholesale approach for 5G in 700 MHz and Rwanda's wholesale 4G network will soon be opened to competition. Wholesale networks continue to operate in Malaysia and Mexico, but do these latest setbacks signal the beginning of the end for this approach?

In our latest podcast, we consider whether the concerns which gave rise to single mobile networks are still relevant; whether they are now being met by other policy instruments; and whether this approach has a future in the 5G era.

Further reading:

Research note: Single wholesale mobile networks: a dying model?

News: Rwanda and Poland scrap single wholesale networks

News: New Malaysian PM pledges review of 5G single wholesale network

101: How do international spectrum agreements work? (feat. NTRA)

Spectrum Policy PodcastBy PolicyTrackerMay 19, 2023