UK mobile operator Orange it set to announce it is joining local rivals T-Mobile and 3 in their network sharing JV Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL).
An Orange spokesperson was unable to comment on reports that emerged today, but a source close to…
UK mobile operator Orange it set to announce it is joining local rivals T-Mobile and 3 in their network sharing JV Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL).
An Orange spokesperson was unable to comment on reports that emerged today, but a source close to the negotiations was able to confirm that an announcement was due at lunchtime.
Orange, already a partner of T-Mobile through their UK JV Everything Everywhere, will be joining T-Mobile’s part of the 50-50 JV. The operator 3 will continue to hold the other 50%. Orange is planning to contribute a few thousand of its own masts what T-Mobile has already provided. In total, 15,000 3G masts are expected to be shared by 2013.
This agreement was expected. The European Commission, when approving Orange and T-Mobile’s UK joint venture, set a condition that Orange had to join T-Mobile’s 50% stake in MBNL. This was to protect 3’s 50% in the venture from potential predatory moves by T-Mobile.
T-Mobile and 3 were unable to comment before the press deadline.
