LycaMobile
Encyclopedia
Lycamobile is a mobile virtual network operator
(MVNO) in Australia
, Belgium
, Denmark
, France
, Italy
, Netherlands
, Norway
, Spain
, Sweden
, Switzerland
and the United Kingdom
- it recently launched in Australia. The Lycamobile brand is distinct from the Lycatel brand and operates with different national corporate entities. Although there are some countries of overlap, Lycamobile and Lycatel do not necessarily operate in parallel. The main bulk of Lycamobile revenue is generated from Lycamobile's SIM products for consumers.
cards to consumers wanting to make international telephone calls. An MVNO leases radio frequency from mobile phone network operators and it forms partnerships with the operators in each country it serves. Lycamobile has also developed distinct business structures such as MVNA arrangements in different countries. Lycamobile states that its focus remains quality and affordable international calling for its customers. It has often adopted an aggressive pricing strategy on entry to new markets in order to acquire early market share. In some instances, MNO partners of Lycamobile have been surprised by the actual growth rather than their own projected estimated growth of Lycamobile's products.
Lycamobile currently operates in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Since its launch in the Netherlands in 2006, Lycamobile has had more than 6 million pay-as-you-go
customers throughout all the countries it serves.
LycaMobile World is an internet service where a single connection fee allows for calls of up to 30 minutes.
Historically, the brand has been in existence since 2001 although its early ownership and operational structure were significantly distinct in the early 2000s from the present day. The present day Lycatel brand owners and licensees form a larger organisation although the operational focus of Lycatel remains the sale of calling cards to wholesalers. Wholesalers in turn sell onto retailers who then sell to expatriate customers who want to make low-cost international calls, handling 1.7 million calls daily.
Lycatel primarily operates via its own national reselling companies or through its service providers in Australia
, Austria
, Belgium
, Canada
, Denmark
, France
, India
(an outsourcing operation), Ireland
, Italy
, Netherlands
, Norway
, Portugal
, Spain
, Sweden
, Switzerland
, United Kingdom
and the United States
.
The Lycatalk brand is also part of the Lycatel family of brands and operates in the same jurisdictions with the exception of Canada, Portugal and the United States.
Lycatel currently holds a wider country-by-country spread than the Lycamobile operations, although Lycamobile is expected to move into countries that Lycatel does not currently have a presence. Although the calling card market is generally considered to be in decline with the arrival of mobile telephony, Lycatel as a whole is a dominant and significant competitor in the calling card market.
and Orange networks, and signed up 1.2 million users in the United Kingdom in their first year.
In the Netherlands it operates using the T-Mobile
and Vodafone
networks.
In Spain it operates using Movistar
, a subsidiary of Spanish giant Telefonica. LycaMobile delivers voice, SMS
and data services in Australia through Telstra's GSM/EDGE
network.
Mobile virtual network operator
A mobile virtual network operator is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service...
(MVNO) in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- it recently launched in Australia. The Lycamobile brand is distinct from the Lycatel brand and operates with different national corporate entities. Although there are some countries of overlap, Lycamobile and Lycatel do not necessarily operate in parallel. The main bulk of Lycamobile revenue is generated from Lycamobile's SIM products for consumers.
Lycamobile Products
Lycamobile sells international prepaid SIMSubscriber Identity Module
A subscriber identity module or subscriber identification module is an integrated circuit that securely stores the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the related key used to identify and authenticate subscriber on mobile telephony devices .A SIM is held on a removable SIM card, which...
cards to consumers wanting to make international telephone calls. An MVNO leases radio frequency from mobile phone network operators and it forms partnerships with the operators in each country it serves. Lycamobile has also developed distinct business structures such as MVNA arrangements in different countries. Lycamobile states that its focus remains quality and affordable international calling for its customers. It has often adopted an aggressive pricing strategy on entry to new markets in order to acquire early market share. In some instances, MNO partners of Lycamobile have been surprised by the actual growth rather than their own projected estimated growth of Lycamobile's products.
Lycamobile currently operates in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Since its launch in the Netherlands in 2006, Lycamobile has had more than 6 million pay-as-you-go
Pay as you go SIM
Pay as you go SIM is a service that activates a subscriber identity module , most commonly used to identify a subscriber on mobile phone network, for a period determined by the credit remaining on the SIM. Access and use of a mobile phone network is usually obtained by paying a monthly subscription...
customers throughout all the countries it serves.
LycaMobile World is an internet service where a single connection fee allows for calls of up to 30 minutes.
Lycatel Products
Lycatel is a distinct operation from Lycamobile and is focused on the sale of calling cards to wholesalers to then sell on to the public. Lycatel offers online sales of calling cards and direct customer sales through the Lycateleshop.Historically, the brand has been in existence since 2001 although its early ownership and operational structure were significantly distinct in the early 2000s from the present day. The present day Lycatel brand owners and licensees form a larger organisation although the operational focus of Lycatel remains the sale of calling cards to wholesalers. Wholesalers in turn sell onto retailers who then sell to expatriate customers who want to make low-cost international calls, handling 1.7 million calls daily.
Lycatel primarily operates via its own national reselling companies or through its service providers in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(an outsourcing operation), Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Lycatalk brand is also part of the Lycatel family of brands and operates in the same jurisdictions with the exception of Canada, Portugal and the United States.
Lycatel currently holds a wider country-by-country spread than the Lycamobile operations, although Lycamobile is expected to move into countries that Lycatel does not currently have a presence. Although the calling card market is generally considered to be in decline with the arrival of mobile telephony, Lycatel as a whole is a dominant and significant competitor in the calling card market.
Coverage
In the United Kingdom it operates using the O2O2 (United Kingdom)
Telefónica UK Limited is a telecommunications, internet and financial services provider in the United Kingdom owned by Telefónica, forming part of its Telefónica Europe division...
and Orange networks, and signed up 1.2 million users in the United Kingdom in their first year.
In the Netherlands it operates using the T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
and Vodafone
Vodafone Netherlands
Vodafone Netherlands, part of the Vodafone Group is the third largest mobile phone company in the Netherlands, and was previously called Libertel. The mobile phone system uses GSM 900 and GSM 1800...
networks.
In Spain it operates using Movistar
Movistar
Movistar is a major Spanish mobile phone operator owned by Telefónica Móviles. It operates in Spain and in many Latin American countries. It is the largest carrier in Spain with 22 million customers and 41.58% of market share. Its principal competitor in Latin America is America Movil...
, a subsidiary of Spanish giant Telefonica. LycaMobile delivers voice, SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
and data services in Australia through Telstra's GSM/EDGE
Edge
- Aviation :* Leading edge, a line connecting the forward-most points of a wing's profile* Trailing edge, the rear edge of the wing* Zivko Edge 540, an aerobatic aircraft- Mathematics, science and technology :...
network.