Vodafone and Orange to share mobile phone networks

Vodafone and Orange are planning to merge their UK mobile phone networks
in a deal designed to cut costs and bring new 3G services to a greater
proportion of their combined 32 million British customers.
The deal, which could be announced within days, would be the first time
UK operators have shared the network that links their mobile phone masts
with handsets. It is understood to focus on the two companies' 3G
networks, but in future could extend to sharing of their older networks
where coverage in remote areas is patchy at best. The companies are
expected to retain control of their backbone networks, which connect
mobile phone masts with systems such as billing and content platforms,
allowing them to continue to develop services.

Full article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/art...008175,00.html


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"{{{{{Welcome}}}}}" <bhx___spam@trapped___hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gswyh.7633$9S5.6594@text.news.blueyonder.co.u k...
> Vodafone and Orange are planning to merge their UK mobile phone networks
> in a deal designed to cut costs and bring new 3G services to a greater
> proportion of their combined 32 million British customers.
> The deal, which could be announced within days, would be the first time UK
> operators have shared the network that links their mobile phone masts with
> handsets. It is understood to focus on the two companies' 3G networks, but
> in future could extend to sharing of their older networks where coverage
> in remote areas is patchy at best. The companies are expected to retain
> control of their backbone networks, which connect mobile phone masts with
> systems such as billing and content platforms, allowing them to continue
> to develop services.
>
> Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/art...008175,00.html
>
That's going to do me a lot of good, Voda and Orange
each have two BTS in this town, both mounted on the same sites.
Both a lousy signal here.

Also does this prove that in Noo Labours Britain
the monopolys commission is dead?

Steve Terry

bhx___spam@trapped___hotmail.co.uk declared for all the world to hear...
> Vodafone and Orange are planning to merge their UK mobile phone networks
> in a deal designed to cut costs and bring new 3G services to a greater
> proportion of their combined 32 million British customers.
> The deal, which could be announced within days, would be the first time
> UK operators have shared the network that links their mobile phone masts
> with handsets. It is understood to focus on the two companies' 3G
> networks, but in future could extend to sharing of their older networks
> where coverage in remote areas is patchy at best. The companies are
> expected to retain control of their backbone networks, which connect
> mobile phone masts with systems such as billing and content platforms,
> allowing them to continue to develop services.
>
> Full article:
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/art...008175,00.html

Sounds like national roaming, rather than sharing sites. Intersting
move.
--
Regards
Jon

On Feb 8, 3:05 am, "{{{{{Welcome}}}}}"
<bhx___spam@trapped___hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> Vodafone and Orange are planning to merge their UK mobile phone networks
> in a deal designed to cut costs and bring new 3G services to a greater
> proportion of their combined 32 million British customers.
> The deal, which could be announced within days, would be the first time
> UK operators have shared the network that links their mobile phone masts
> with handsets. It is understood to focus on the two companies' 3G
> networks, but in future could extend to sharing of their older networks
> where coverage in remote areas is patchy at best. The companies are
> expected to retain control of their backbone networks, which connect
> mobile phone masts with systems such as billing and content platforms,
> allowing them to continue to develop services.
>
> Full article:http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/art...008175,00.html

Vodafone statement on this: http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?
id=200702080755029151Q

Regards
Sunil

On Feb 8, 7:41 am, Jon <s...@jonparker.plus.com> wrote:
> bhx___spam@trapped___hotmail.co.uk declared for all the world to hear...
>
> > Vodafone and Orange are planning to merge their UK mobile phone networks
> > in a deal designed to cut costs and bring new 3G services to a greater
> > proportion of their combined 32 million British customers.
> > The deal, which could be announced within days, would be the first time
> > UK operators have shared the network that links their mobile phone masts
> > with handsets. It is understood to focus on the two companies' 3G
> > networks, but in future could extend to sharing of their older networks
> > where coverage in remote areas is patchy at best. The companies are
> > expected to retain control of their backbone networks, which connect
> > mobile phone masts with systems such as billing and content platforms,
> > allowing them to continue to develop services.
>
> > Full article:
> >http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/art...008175,00.html
>
> Sounds like national roaming, rather than sharing sites. Intersting
> move.
> --
> Regards
> Jon

The details indicate that they are sharing equipment -- i.e. masts and
associated mast equipment. This isn't national roaming.

"Jon" <spam@jonparker.plus.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.2034e48e44f6ff4f98a720@text.usenet.plus.n et...
> bhx___spam@trapped___hotmail.co.uk declared for all the world to hear...
<snip>
>> Full article:
>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/art...008175,00.html
>
> Sounds like national roaming, rather than sharing sites.
> Interesting move.
> Regards
> Jon
>
>
That's what i thought, the Swiss have been doing it for years.
They do it to reinforce their calling ability, as the country is run on
military lines

Steve Terry

usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk declared for all the world to hear...
> > > Full article:
> > >http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/art...008175,00.html

> > Sounds like national roaming, rather than sharing sites. Intersting
> > move.

> The details indicate that they are sharing equipment -- i.e. masts and
> associated mast equipment. This isn't national roaming.

Indeed. I may have been a little hasty in my digestion of this article
this morning. SOme briefings at work I read today do indeed confirm it
to be hardware sharing and not roaming.
--
Regards
Jon