Separating the roles of a service provider and a network operator might benefit for industry, end-users and provider itself. The end user can use different services from different providers, choosing best option applicable for his/her needs. The service provider can rent the equipment for delivering services to multiple users without operating infrastructure or any equipment necessary for the delivery. Increasing amount of service providers will result the competition that will stimulate growth of the industry and make services more accessible.

Definition:
Open network is called a network where network operator and service provider are separated.
In open network relationship between an end-user and a service provider depends on mutual agreement.
In open network all end-users can choose different services from all service providers over the infrastructure operated by the network operator.

The open network also could be called operator or service neutral network or a multi-operator network. Muni and residential area networks are open in most of developing countries.

For example Latvia, as one of EU countries had adopted this concept as well. To name company examples, few are:

In Radio Access field – RTN LTD: www.rtn.lv

and in fiber access (based on PON): www.mwtv.lv