Will challenger banks start to launch their own mobile networks to keep their customers happy? This may well be a defining trend in 2026

• The banking-telecom crossover is accelerating faster than regulators or customers expected
• Mobile connectivity is becoming another battleground for fintechs seeking customer retention
• Traditional carriers are responding to fintech incursions through travel eSIM spin-offs

A growing number of digital-only banks are experimenting with launching their own mobile network services, signaling a potential shift in how financial institutions engage customers.

The idea of neobanks operating as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) is gaining traction as technology and telecom sectors converge.

However, analysts caution that while technical feasibility has advanced, the commercial logic behind such ventures remains largely unproven.

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