required to run the service.
* a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which buys wholesale service from an MNO and sells on to its own customers.

As of May 2016 (and for years before), the world's largest individual mobile operator by subscribers is China Mobile with over 835 million mobile subscribers. Over 50 mobile operators have over 10 million subscribers each, and over 150 mobile operators had at least one million subscribers by