A UK-based MVNO aims to jump into the US market within the next year according to multiple reports, and it will bring its charity focused business model along with it, as well as its community based viral marketing approach. Charity-focused MVNOs are nothing new in the US, with GIV Mobile and Credo Mobile being two of the most recent examples in the US market, The People’s Operator is yet another foreign MVNO that has its sights set on the US as a long-term growth market.
The operator has already signed an agreement with Sprint to launch services on its network in 2015, while the funding for the expansion will come from a flotation of the company on the FTSE AIM stock exchange that is planned for next month. The flotation of the company on the exchange is expected to raise at least £100 million (€127 million/$161 million) with the majority of the cash raised going towards the building of the US and international launch infrastructure.
The company operates in the UK as a SIM-only MVNO and donates 10% of a customers monthly charge to a charity of their choosing whether the customer is on monthly prepaid or pay-as-you-go service. The operator also counts Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales as a part of the company, as he is listed as the executive director of strategy and digital community.
With The People’s Operator aiming for US expansion, it validates the charity-focused business model pioneered by the aforementioned GIV and Credo, but what remains to be seen is if the carrier’s marketing will make a difference, as well as its decision to partner with Sprint.
