A YORK-based global mobile telecoms provider has reached a major milestone.

Cellhire is launching its own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), starting in France with plans to roll it out across the UK and globally within weeks.

The offering, called eSIMsmart, will open on Orange France’s mobile network and enables SIM cards to be updated remotely, regardless of which country the user is in, ending costly data roaming.

It also cuts out the need to buy new SIM cards online to be delivered or visit physical retail premises for the purchase.

The move will enable the company to benefit in the future as the traditional SIM market moves towards eSIMs.

"The launch of the eSIMsmart brand is an incredibly important milestone for Cellhire," said chief executive officer, Martyn Stevens.

"Being an MVNO gives us total control over the commercial offerings, tariffing and real-time visibility that customers require. Real-time visibility is vitally important in an area where Cellhire already excels - cellular IoT plans with large data bundles.”

Cellhire has built its MVNO eSIMsmart network to specifically support business users.

It has been 20 months in the making, which included Cellhire building its own core network.

For many years, Cellhire has carved out a niche providing SIMs with very large data volumes to business customers and for use in mobile broadband devices and Internet of Things (IoT).

The company is now a key supplier of data and voice communications, as well as data connections, to national and global media companies for major sporting events including FIFA World Cups and Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Cellhire is now also a member of the GMSA, which represents the interests of mobile operators.

“Becoming a MVNO, a mobile network and now a member of the GSMA is an important step for Cellhire with its long history of innovation as a global mobile telecoms provider,” said Cellhire Group technology director Peter Whelerton.

“Using eSIMsmart future-proofs our global distribution network for delivering over-the-air changes while paving the way for the next evolution of competitive domestic and roaming airtime products from the company,” he added. “And because each eSIM is delivered over-the-air it cuts logistics out of the loop, reducing SIM plastic waste, making it more environmentally friendly.”

Cellhire is a leading global service provider of mobile communications, providing proven, robust and secure mobile connectivity to users worldwide.