O2 & Voda to join forces?

J_B

I know we shouldn't trust anything we read in the Daily Mail, but, is there any truth in this?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2156085/Vodafone-02-set-share-network-phone-masts.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2156184/Mobile-phone-giants-plans-axe-2-000-masts-bid-save-money-welcomed-campaigners.html

Kite2010

I heard something along those lines a few months ago.

I hope the local O2 mast doesn't get axed as the Vodafone signal in this area is pants

buscape

It's true, they've been sharing sites since 2009, what they've agreed to do now is more like what Three and Everything Everywhere have been doing since 2007, basically one big network for both operators.

smartphone

The mast sharing agreements are somewhat simplified in the mobile press. Three and Everything Everywhere are not the same network. What happens is, if EE want to put up a new cell site, and Three already have one, they can install the equipment on the latter's mast. This makes the process of extending the network much easier, as a lot of the problems the networks face is getting planning permission for a site, with locals usually kicking up a fuss as they don't want a mast near where they live. O2 and Voda have a similar agreement.

With this in mind, it won't affect your local coverage.

redux

There has been sharing of mast sites for years. I don't see why the press occasionally make out it's something new.

Buzby

What is different is that O2 is giving up is infrastructure in the South & East, whilst Vodafone is doing the same in the Midlands, Scotland, Wales and NI.

Where you used to have the choice of diversity (for example, when O2 fell over Vodafone was fine) this will be lost - the UK is being split into 2 sectors and there will be no requirement to share.

buscape

Buzby wrote: »

What is different is that O2 is giving up is infrastructure in the South & East, whilst Vodafone is doing the same in the Midlands, Scotland, Wales and NI.

According to this article, the management of sites will be split vertically in England and 02 will manage sites in the east of England, Northern Ireland and most of Scotland whereas Vodafone will do the same in the west of England and Wales.

No infrastructure is being given up (except where they duplicate each other), it's more that each network will have specific parts of the country to manage.

Each operator will over time take the responsibility for design, management and maintenance of the radio equipment as well as local transmission (that connects to each operator’s intelligent backbone network) in one half of the country. Telef!nica UK will manage and maintain these elements in the East (including Northern Ireland and most of Scotland) and Vodafone UK in the West (including Wales).

Buzby wrote: »

Where you used to have the choice of diversity (for example, when O2 fell over Vodafone was fine) this will be lost - the UK is being split into 2 sectors and there will be no requirement to share.

As I understand it, where 02 didn't work and Vodafone did, under this arrangement you will now have signal from O2 as they will be transmitting from the Vodafone site.

Buzby

As I'm based in Scotland, I am unimpressed that O2 will be the only GSM 900 network operator here, as there will be ex-Vodafone sites that will be amalgamated where required, and removed when there is duplication.

So in essence there will be no 'Vodafone site' to speak of.