Irish mobile operators Eircom and O2 have announced a strategic network partnership to share infrastructure in Ireland.
The agreement does not include the transfer of assets or the sharing of spectrum. However, it will see the companies consolidate…
Irish mobile operators Eircom and O2 have announced a strategic network partnership to share infrastructure in Ireland.
The agreement does not include the transfer of assets or the sharing of spectrum. However, it will see the companies consolidate existing sites, and could lead to them building new sites together.
According to a joint statement, the network sharing deal builds on progress seen from similar initiatives in a number of countries, including the UK, Spain, France and the Czech Republic.
A spokesman for Eircom, Ireland’s incumbent operator, told TelecomFinance that other operators in Ireland could also join the partnership at a later stage.
Announcing the agreement today, Eircom CEO Paul Donovan said: “The current economic realities require all operators to think creatively on how to operate more efficiently.
“This new collaboration between two of the largest operators in the Irish market demonstrates how working together we can deliver tangible benefits for customers.”
Stephen Shurrock, CEO of O2 Ireland, which is owned by Spanish incumbent Telefonica, believes the partnership will help the companies meet growing demand for higher bandwidth services.
“There is a strong strategic requirement for greater collaboration and focus in the area of investment in helping to accelerate the introduction of new technologies and O2 is delighted to be at the forefront of this development,” said Shurrock.
