Vodafone and O2 have announced plans to merge their networks into a single grid, to improve coverage and accelerate the move to 4G.The plans are an extension of an existing partnership, with the two firms already having an agreement in place to share new network sites.
The mobile operators will create a 50/50 joint venture to consolidate their networks, with towers and masts either transferred to the new company or decommissioned. That will create a single grid of 18,500 masts, boosting each operator's coverage by 40%, despite the number of masts declining by 10% overall, the companies said.
The partnership will also help the two firms roll out 4G services more quickly - and up to two years ahead of Ofcom's 2017 cut-off date.
“This partnership is about working smarter as an industry, so that we can focus on what really matters to our customers – delivering a superfast network up to two years faster than Ofcom envisages and to as many people as possible," said Ronan Dunne, CEO of O2. "One physical grid, running independent networks, will mean greater efficiency, fewer site builds, broader coverage and, crucially, investment in innovation and better competition for the customer.”
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http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/375025/vodafone-and-o2-combine-networks-for-faster-4g-roll-out
Topic: Vodafone and O2 combine networks for faster 4G roll out (Read 2534 times)