Google has confirmed rumours it will soon be offering mobile network plans . Vice president Sundar Pichai said the firm is working with unnamed operators during a talk at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona . Rumours claim it will be initially offered to cities that have Google Fiber , such as Kansas , Texas and Utah . Elsewhere , Mr Pichai confirmed Google was working on Android Pay as well as Project Loon , designed to connect more urban areas . Sundar Pichai , senior vice president of Android , Chrome and Apps , talks during a conference during the Mobile World Congress , the world 's largest mobile phone trade show in Barcelona , Spain . Google has confirmed year-long rumours it will be offering mobile network plans in the US . Speaking at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona , vice president Sundar Pichai said the tech giant is working with unnamed network operators on developing a cellular plan . ‘ You will see us announce it in the coming months , I think we are at a stage where it is important to think about hardware , software and connectability together , ’ said the 43-year-old . Mr PIchai also confirmed rumours that Google is working on a payment service and unveiled plans for its Project Loon - designed to connect urban areas . The rumours of a Google mobile network plan first emerged in April last year , and the unnamed networks are believed to be Sprint and T-Mobile in the US . Instead of building masts , Google will buy access to existing 3G and 4G networks at wholesale prices and sell the connectivity back to customers at a cheaper rate . Visitors use their smartphones to take pictures of the new Galaxy S6 Edge displayed inside a glass cabinet , during the Mobile World Congress , the world 's largest mobile phone trade show in Barcelona . This would make Google a mobile virtual network operator ( MVNO ) similar to Lycamobile in the US that runs on T-Mobile ’ s network , and Tesco Mobile in the UK which shares O2 ’ s networks . MVNOs do n't own the infrastructure the networks are built on . Instead , they buy access to parts of these networks at wholesale prices . The company can then use these network to run its own wireless plans and resell the connectivity back to customers - usually at a reduced rate . Mr Pinchai said : ‘ We want to be able to experiment along those lines , [ but ] we do n't intend to be a network operator at scale. ’ A mobile virtual network operator ( MVNO ) is a company that offers mobile service plans using existing networks . MVNOs do n't own the infrastructure the networks are built on . Instead , they buy access to parts of these networks at wholesale prices . The company can then use this access to run its own wireless plans and resell the connectivity back to customers - usually at a reduced rate . Lycamobile in the U.S , for example , is an MVNO because it runs on T-Mobile ’ s network . In the UK , Tesco Mobile shares O2 ’ s , and ultimately Telefonica ’ s , networks . An MVNO is typically run as an independent company , with its own staff and customer service . He described the plans as a ‘ project ’ and will do it on a small enough scale to not threaten existing networks . In particular , Mr Pichai said the setup should provide at seamless connection between Wi-Fi and mobile networks . Sources said at the time of the original rumours that any Google-branded mobile network would initially launch in cities that have Google Fiber . Google launched its 1000mps Fiber broadband service in 2011 , starting with Kansas City . In 2013 , the firm announced it was expanding the service to Austin in Texas , Provo in Utah and a number of other towns in Missouri and California . More locations are due to be added later this year , but the roll-out is slow because Google has to install the relevant infrastructure needed . Google Fiber starts at $ 70 ( £42 ) a month and has been praised for offering high speeds at relatively low prices . Google ’ s wireless plans would remove some of the costs , and time spent , in setting up its own network and it would equally benefit from using already established and well-connected networks . This could help Google cement itself as an internet service provider . Google could additionally use the network to sell its Nexus range of phones , for example , with contract or service plans . Mr Pichai also used the event to announce the launch of Google Fiber in more urban areas and to announce Project Loon , designed to bring connectivity to rural areas , and Project Titan - a drone version of Loon . He also confirmed Android Pay will be built into its mobile software and will have NFC components , but won ’ t launch it before Samsung launches its Pay service later this year .
Google confirmed rumours it will soon be offering mobile network plans . Vice president Sundar Pichai said firm is working with operators . The claims were made at MVNO in Barcelona . Rumours claim it will be initially offered to cities that have Google Fiber . Instead of building masts Google is said to be looking at becoming a mobile virtual network operator ( Mobile World Congress )