No, ENO is not a new
brand of coffee

But it is the perfect blend of MNO and MVNO

An ENO is well-balanced. Full-bodied like an MNO, with distinctive notes of network control and visibility, complemented by the bright overtones of an MVNO, with its global reach, flexibility, and rapid innovation. An ENO is fresh, it hits the spot. And while it isn’t coffee, ENO enterprise connectivity solutions are made to your liking. Just like your favorite brew.

ENO

What's in the name?

An Enterprise Network Operator (ENO) is a new class of connectivity service provider in the IoT market. In short, an ENO is an enabler for the infrastructure and related services that enterprises need in order to own and control their IoT networks. It offers those enterprises that do not have the in-house capabilities to build, manage, and run their own network the means to do so as a managed service (Network as a service - NaaS).

Via this advanced NaaS model, ENOs are able to offer unique solutions that are tailored to individual enterprise needs, either providing a complete private cellular network or supplementing the enterprise’s existing network with specific elements, such as management and billing platforms, global IMSIs or a pLTE core.

Network ownership

In the hands of the enterprise. But why?

Enterprise ownership of mobile networks is a concept that has been gaining momentum in recent years and one that is set to remove some of the barriers that have, until now, stifled the growth of the IoT.

In the evolving connectivity landscape, no longer does the control of the network lie with the MNO (Mobile Network Operator) or MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). The introduction of the eSIM, availability of unlicensed spectrum for enterprise use, and increasingly IP-based network architecture have made private cellular networks that are owned and operated by enterprises more than a reality: they’re becoming a critical resource.

The benefits for enterprises of owning the network are obvious. Greater visibility of the status of their connected devices, more flexibility and control over the network configuration, QoS and security policies of their IoT network, and the ability to quickly scale globally and reduce connectivity costs to name a few.

Neither an MNO nor an MVNO
An ENO is the best of both

So, how are ENOs different from the current IoT connectivity model offered by MNOs and MVNOs? In fact, they combine the network control and visibility of an MNO with the global reach, flexibility, and rapid innovation of an MVNO.

ENOs operate their own mobile core networks, including their own interconnects and network-switching infrastructure. They can negotiate their own roaming and interconnect agreements with other operators and have their own mobile network codes and IMSIs.

This is similar to an advanced “full MVNO”, however the ENO goes further by enabling seamless connectivity over private as well as public spectrum through a private LTE core that can be deployed on the enterprise premises or in the cloud.

The result is a single, large unified private domain in which the IoT network operates like the corporate LAN. The network can be sliced, allowing multiple logical networks to run across a shared infrastructure so that enterprises can customize network configurations, Quality of Service (QoS) and native security policies for different groups of devices. Although the ENO doesn’t own the spectrum (since it is owned by the enterprise), it acts as an enabler for leveraging that spectrum and layers the managed network services on top to provide a fully functioning cellular network.

Enterprise Network Operators

for mission-critical IoT applications

ENOs provide the secure and resilient connectivity required by today’s mission-critical enterprise IoT applications. An ENO can provide seamless access to the IPX (IP eXchange) backbone network. This managed network environment is traffic engineered to support IP services at specific quality levels. Data on the IPX runs at Gigabit rates without interference and since it does not touch the public Internet, it’s totally secure. The ENO layers on additional advanced security solutions, such as network monitoring software using machine-learning algorithms to detect anomalies, to ensure that data moving seamlessly between the public and private networks remains secure.

Next-generation connectivity

that grows with the enterprise

An ENO is a long-term technology partner for the enterprise. By controlling the entire technology stack and allowing enterprise ownership, as technology requirements evolve the ENO can ensure a scalable path to future-proof enterprise investment in the network.

Key differences between
IoT connectivity service providers

cog image

Network Infrastructure

MNO

  • Own network infrastructure
  • Own radio spectrum

MVNO

  • Uses MNO network infrastructure*
  • Uses MNO radio spectrum

ENO

  • Own network infrastructure
  • Can enable services on both public & private spectrum
cloud image

Services Offered

MNO

  • Management & provisioning
  • Billing
  • Customer service
  • Maintenance
  • Sales & marketing

MVNO

  • Service packaging/pricing
  • Management platform
  • Billing systems
  • Customer service
  • Sales & marketing

ENO

  • Management & provisioning platform
  • NaaS & provisioning of enterprise-grade private networks
  • Seamless roaming between public and private networks
  • Billing & hierarchical onward billing for resellers
  • Value added services such as advanced security, analytics & network management, advanced SIM technology
  • Technical customer support & maintenance
  • Sales & marketing
customer image

Customer Base

MNO

  • Consumer & enterprise, although consumer services prioritized

MVNO

  • Can be consumer and/or enterprise. Many vertically focused on specific niches

ENO

  • Solely enterprise. Works as a long term technical partner with the enterprise
  • Experience in development, deployment and management of enterprise IoT applications across all vertical sectors

Read what industry press
says about ENO

"With new capabilities of private cellular networking such as more network control, plus additional technologies such as eSIM and advanced security solutions, enterprises have access to the full stack of network technologies. This ... has given rise to a new breed of enterprise network operator (ENO) which gives an enterprise further network control by providing managed services for them to run their own networks.”
Forbes.com

Curious to know more?

Download the white paper to learn all about ENOs and how network ownership and control enhance enterprise IoT.

Further Reading
  1. Creating Business Value with Smart Industrial Processes (Beecham Research)
  2. The Future of Telecoms Will Give Enterprises Their Own Networks (Forbes.com)

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Contact us: info@whatisaneno.com