Network resources collects the UK mobile providers and tools you are most likely to need after Create Numbers delivers your PAC — because custom numbers are designed to work on any UK network, including physical SIM, eSIM and virtual setups. Create Numbers is the number source; EE, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, Three and the long tail of MVNOs (and hosts like gosimless) provide day-to-day radio service. The market is large: Ofcom’s CMR 2025 counted 117 million UK mobile subscriptions in 2024 and £14.1bn retail mobile revenue (Ofcom Communications Market Report 2025). Host-network pairings below change over time — verify on the provider’s site before you buy a tariff.
How UK mobile networks are structured
The UK has a small set of mobile network operators (MNOs) that run radio access networks, plus many mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and operator sub-brands that sell SIMs while riding on those networks. Enders Analysis figures cited in the government’s 2025 Mobile Market Review call for evidence put MVNOs at about 19% of the UK mobile market by end-2024 (GOV.UK — Mobile Market Review). CCS Insight similarly reported MVNOs at 18% of retail connections in 2023 (excluding operator sub-brands such as giffgaff, VOXI and Smarty) (CCS Insight — UK MVNO market).
| Layer | Role | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| MNO / radio host | Owns/runs RAN | EE, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, Three (brands evolving under market consolidation) |
| Sub-brand | Same group, distinct retail brand | giffgaff (O2), VOXI (Vodafone), Smarty (Three) |
| MVNO | Separate retailer on host capacity | Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, Lebara, Lyca Mobile, iD Mobile |
| Virtual host | Number/SMS features without full MNO plan | gosimless (Create Numbers partner) |
Ofcom does not maintain a statutory public register of every MVNO (providers need not notify Ofcom that they “are an MVNO”) (Ofcom FOI response on active MVNOs). Treat any list as indicative, not exhaustive.
Mobile network operators (MNOs)
Start here if you want coverage tools, store networks and the underlying radio brands Create Numbers customers most often port into. Homepage creative already references EE, Three, O2, Vodafone and giffgaff as familiar UK routes. Industry consolidation (including the Vodafone–Three merger remedies discussed in UK public policy documents in 2025) can change legal entities while consumer brands remain — re-check who bills you before a large contract (GOV.UK Mobile Market Review).
| Brand | Consumer site (start) | Notes for CN customers |
|---|---|---|
| EE | ee.co.uk | Full MNO; SIM swap help documented online |
| Virgin Media O2 / O2 | o2.co.uk | O2 radio; Virgin Media bundle customers may differ in account UX |
| Vodafone | vodafone.co.uk | Full MNO; online SIM swap tools |
| Three | three.co.uk | Full MNO; My3 replacement SIM flows |
| Topic | Resource |
|---|---|
| Ofcom mobile switching (PAC/STAC) | ofcom.org.uk — Switching mobile |
| Number portability (regulatory) | Ofcom — Number portability |
| Create Numbers go-live | Get connected |
Major MVNOs and sub-brands
Use this table to see who you pay versus whose mast you likely use. CCS Insight’s 2024 MVNO analysis named Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, Lebara, Lyca Mobile and iD Mobile as the top five MVNOs by customers (about 85% of the MVNO segment in that research) and noted Virgin Media O2 hosting a very large share of MVNO connections, with EE, Vodafone and Three also hosting material virtual volumes (CCS Insight). Host columns are best-effort public associations and must be re-verified — commercial migrations (for example Lyca’s host changes reported in trade coverage) do happen.
Operator sub-brands
| Brand | Typical radio host | Site |
|---|---|---|
| giffgaff | O2 | giffgaff.com |
| VOXI | Vodafone | voxi.co.uk |
| Smarty | Three | smarty.co.uk |
| BT Mobile | EE | bt.com/mobile |
| Plusnet Mobile | EE | plus.net |
| Virgin Mobile | O2 (Virgin Media O2) | Via Virgin Media account channels |
Widely available MVNOs (indicative)
| Brand | Typical radio host (verify) | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco Mobile | O2 | tescomobile.com |
| Sky Mobile | O2 | sky.com/shop/mobile |
| Lebara | Vodafone (verify) | lebara.co.uk |
| Lyca Mobile | EE (verify — has changed historically) | lycamobile.co.uk |
| iD Mobile | Three | idmobile.co.uk |
| Asda Mobile | EE (verify) | mobile.asda.com |
| Softlink / other grocery & retail SIMs | Varies | Check pack / help pages |
| Superdrug Mobile | Three (verify) | Superdrug Mobile help |
| Honest Mobile | EE (verify) | honestmobile.com |
| SPUSU | Three (verify) | spusu.co.uk |
| Lebara / Lyca / other international-calling specialists | Varies | Provider help |
| 1pMobile | EE (verify) | 1pmobile.com |
| FreedomPop / other niche brands | Varies | Provider help |
| Utility Warehouse Mobile | EE (verify) | UW member help |
| Talkmobile | Vodafone (verify) | talkmobile.co.uk |
| The People’s Operator legacy / small MVNOs | Varies | Often closed or migrated — check before porting |
Always run PAC inbound tests (call + SMS) on the specific brand you chose — two MVNOs on the same host can still differ on APN names, short-code SMS behaviour and eSIM support.
Coverage, spectrum and checking your address
Check coverage for the brand you will pay, then sanity-check the host if the brand is an MVNO. Ofcom’s CMR 2025 found 80% of mobile customers satisfied with reception/signal in 2024, with rural users less satisfied (77%) than urban (81%) (Ofcom CMR 2025). Average mobile data use reached about 10.6 GB per mobile data user per month in 2024 (same report).
| Tool | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Ofcom mobile / broadband checkers (consumer checkers hub) | Independent foresight before you sign |
| EE / O2 / Vodafone / Three coverage maps | Brand-level indoor/outdoor predictions |
| MVNO map (if offered) | Often mirrors host; still confirm |
| In-person signal test | Final say — borrow a payg SIM where possible |
Porting and SIM codes you will reuse
Keep Ofcom’s Auto-Switch short codes next to your Create Numbers PAC email. Text PAC to 65075 to keep a number when leaving a provider; text STAC to 75075 to leave without keeping it; codes are typically valid 30 days, and gaining providers should complete switches within one working day (Ofcom switching guide). Deep dive: Number porting. Same-network replacements: SIM swap.
| Code / action | Number | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| PAC | 65075 | Keep number when switching |
| STAC | 75075 | Switch without keeping number |
| INFO (where supported) | 85075 | Contract / leaving information SMS |
| Create Numbers PAC | Inbound custom-number go-live |
Lost, stolen and emergency contacts (MNOs)
If a handset goes missing, bar the SIM through the brand you pay before you order a replacement. Ofcom summarises lost/stolen contacts and notes capped unauthorised-use liability when EE, O2, Vodafone or Three customers report quickly (often within 24 hours) (Ofcom — Lost or stolen phone). Numbers change — prefer in-app reporting when signed in.
| Provider | Ofcom-listed UK contact examples (re-check live) |
|---|---|
| Three | 333 from Three / 0333 338 1001 |
| EE | 07953 966 250 (see Ofcom table for variants) |
| O2 | 0344 809 0202 (pay monthly) / 0344 809 0222 (PAYG) |
| Vodafone | 03333 040191 |
| Tesco Mobile | 4455 / 0345 301 4455 |
Virtual hosting and non-SIM paths
Not every Create Numbers deployment needs an MNO retail brand — Virtual number hosting via gosimless covers WhatsApp-centric and SMS-to-email setups. GoSimless has publicly described UK virtual mobiles and separate business eSIMs on hosts such as O2 and Vodafone (gosimless blog). Use WhatsApp verification when Meta OTP is the goal.
| Path | When to prefer it |
|---|---|
| MNO / MVNO SIM | Everyday dialler + data |
| gosimless virtual | Business WhatsApp / shared SMS inbox |
| Create Numbers PAYG SIM | Simple plastic inbound PAC target |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pick a network before I buy a Create Numbers mobile?
You can — checking coverage first reduces regret — but you do not have to lock a tariff before requesting digits. Create Numbers fulfilment is PAC-based into any UK network. Use this page’s checkers while options emails are in flight.
Should I prefer an MNO over an MVNO for a business vanity number?
Choose on coverage, SMS reliability, account security and price, not prestige. Many MVNOs are excellent; some differ on short-code SMS. Test OTP paths before printing the number.
Should giffgaff, VOXI or Smarty count as “any UK network”?
Yes — they are valid go-live targets for a Create Numbers PAC, with the caveat that they are sub-brands with their own account rules. Use their help centres for SIM swap and PAC questions. Radio experience tracks O2 / Vodafone / Three respectively in typical setups.
Should I trust online “MVNO host” tables blindly?
No — treat them as clues, then confirm in the provider’s current help docs or SIM packaging. Host migrations happen. CCS Insight and trade press are useful context, not contractual fact.
Should rural businesses dual-SIM two hosts?
Often yes — Ofcom’s rural vs urban reception satisfaction gap is persistent in CMR 2025. A second data SIM (or Wi‑Fi calling) can protect WhatsApp even when the vanity voice line is quiet. Design for the office postcode, not the marketing agency’s.
Should I still keep Ofcom checker screenshots?
Yes for procurement files — especially when justifying an MNO uplift vs an MVNO. Re-run checks after major network builds. Pair screenshots with a live handset test.
Should employees use personal MVNOs for company Create Numbers mobiles?
Prefer company-owned accounts so leavers do not take the PAC rights with them. Personal giffgaff-style accounts complicate offboarding. Document who owns the line in your asset register.
Should I port into gosimless and an MNO at once?
A number only has one primary network hosting at a time. Choose virtual or MNO/MVNO as the PAC target (unless a product explicitly implements dual routing). See Virtual number hosting.
Should I contact Create Numbers about EE coverage holes?
Contact EE (or whichever brand you pay) for coverage and SIM performance. Contact Create Numbers for PAC fulfilment and number purchase issues. Split support along those lines to get faster answers.
Should this list include every UK MVNO?
It cannot — Ofcom itself does not hold a complete active-MVNO list, and the long tail includes many small brands. If your provider is missing, you can still port a Create Numbers mobile there if they accept standard UK PACs. Send us the brand name if you want it added in a later revision.