The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and provide the conditions for the implementation in Honduran telecommunication market of the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). It evaluates strategies, identifies market segments in tourism, as well as regulatory laws that might affect the creation of an MVNO; limited to not enact how it should be the establishment of the business model and focusing more on the feasibility and potential companies that can perform deployment.
The research is based on secondary data research of South America, Asia and Europe cases. It also includes a descriptive methodology to provide an analysis of the Honduran situation, identifying whether the current telecommunication market has possibilities to move to this new phase and what kind of issues, this business model could face in its implementation in Honduras.
A detailed explanation of the different definitions for the Mobile Virtual Network Operator, classification, successful business strategies, relationship and differences with the Mobile Network Operator is also provided.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and provide the conditions for the implementation in Honduran telecommunication market of the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). It evaluates strategies, identifies market segments in tourism, as well as regulatory laws that might affect the creation of an MVNO; limited to not enact how it should be the establishment of the business model and focusing more on the feasibility and potential companies that can perform deployment.
The research is based on secondary data research of South America, Asia and Europe cases. It also includes a descriptive methodology to provide an analysis of the Honduran situation, identifying whether the current telecommunication market has possibilities to move to this new phase and what kind of issues, this business model could face in its implementation in Honduras.
A detailed explanation of the different definitions for the Mobile Virtual Network Operator, classification, successful business strategies, relationship and differences with the Mobile Network Operator is also provided.

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 RESEARCH MOTIVATION AND IMPORTANCE 1
1.2 THE AIMS OF THE STUDY 1
1.3 MVNO INTRODUCTION 2
1.4 TELECOMMUNICATION BACKGROUND IN HONDURAS 3
CHAPTER II: CONCEPTS AND LITERATURE REVIEW ABOUT THE MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR BUSINESS MODEL 5
2.1 MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR AND MOBILE NETWORK OPERATOR 5
2.1.1 MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR AND MOBILE NETWORK OPERATOR DEFINITIONS 5
2.1.2 MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR AND MOBILE NETWORK OPERATOR DIFFERENCES IN BUSINESS MODELS 6
2.1.3 THE MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK ENABLER 7
2.1.4 RELATION AND COMMERCIAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCES BETWEEN MVNO AND MNO 7
2.2 TYPE OF MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR BUSINESS MODELS 10
2.2.1 MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO LEVELS OF INTEGRATION 10
2.2.2 MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR BUSINESS MODELS CLASSIFICATION. 11
2.3 MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 13
2.3.1 MARKET STRATEGIES 14
2.3.2 KEY FACTORS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MVNO 15
2.4 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE MVNO BUSINESS MODEL 17
CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 19
3.1 OVERVIEW 19
3.2 RESEARCH METHODS 19
3.2.1 LITERATURE SURVEY 20
3.2.2 QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY 20
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS OF LEGAL, ECONOMY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND TOURISM SECTORS IN HONDURAS FOR MVNO IMPLEMENTATION. 22
4.1 HONDURAS LEGAL REGULATIONS OF TELECOMMUNICATION SECTOR 22
4.1.1 NATIONAL COMMISSION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS – CONATEL HONDURAS 22
4.1.2 FRAMEWORK LAW IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR 23
4.2 HONDURAS MAIN MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES 27
4.3 TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET IN HONDURAS 28
4.3.1 MOBILE PHONE SERVICES IN HONDURAS 29
4.4 TOURISM SECTOR IN HONDURAS 33
CHAPTER V: FEASIBLE MVNO BUSINESS MODEL TO IMPLEMENT IN HONDURAS 36
5.1 BUSINESS NEED IN HONDURAS 36
5.2 SUITABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES FOR MVNO IN HONDURAS 36
5.2.1 MARKET NICHE FOR MVNO IMPLEMENTATION IN HONDURAS 37
5.2.2 MOBILE VIRTUAL OPERATOR NETWORK TO IMPLEMENT ACCORDING TO INTEGRATION LEVEL AND BUSINESS MODEL 39
5.2.3 THE MNO – MVNO PARTNERSHIP FOR BUSINESS MODEL IMPLEMENTATION IN HONDURAS 43
5.3 DOUBTS ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE MVNO BUSINESS MODELS IN HONDURAS 44
CHAPTER VI: CONCLUSIONS 46
5.4 RESEARCH FINDINGS 46
5.5 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE 46
5.6 RESEARCH LIMITATIONS 47
5.7 FUTURE RESEARCH 47
REFERENCES 48
APPENDIX 50
7.1 ANNEX A 50
7.2 ANNEX B 51
7.3 ANNEX C 53

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