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T-Mobile, 3 UK shared 3G network

Tony Chan | April 20, 2010 | 0 Comments

T-Mobile UK and 3 UK are in the process of completing a massive joint infrastructure program that will see the elimination of more than 3,000 cell sites from the network. The project will also consolidate more than 12,500 sites on the previous networks of the two operators.

The resulting shared network requires fewer masts, consumes less energy and provides customers with a superior mobile broadband service. The program was started in December 2007 when two operators pooled their 3G network infrastructure in a 50:50 joint venture company called, Mobile Broadband Network Ltd.

The initiative was “to create Britian’s best 3G network more rapidly and more efficiently than either party could do alone,” according to Nokia Siemens Networks, who last week won a new contract worth over £400 million from MBNL.

The contract with NSN includes the provision of 3G radio network infrastructure, mobile network planning, implementation, optimisation and maintenance.

The HSDPA 3G network already offers outdoor coverage to more than 90% of Britain’s population. By the end of this year, the network coverage will be expanded to more than 98% of the population, NSN said.

Graham Payne, managing director of MBNL said: “Smartphone and mobile laptop data traffic growth in the UK has been unprecedented, and every sign is it will continue growing fast. With Nokia Siemens Networks, we are confident of providing the UK’s most smartphone friendly, high-speed 3G network to more people in the UK than any other operator, delivering exceptional services to both T-Mobile UK and 3 UK subscribers.”

Graham Baxter, chief technology officer at 3 UK said: “We believe that with Nokia Siemens Networks as our principal technology partner, MBNL will deliver on its objective of creating what will be Europe’s largest HSDPA network in record timescales to quickly enable the best customer experience.”