Orange / T Mobile merger

[Dave_M]

So orange & T Mobile customers can sign up for free roaming across the two networks in early October following the merger. Any idea if or how long it will be before Virgin customers can take advantage of an improved network?

[JMcB]

I'm a orange customer how is this merger going to help me?

[BenMcr]

I know Virgin are in discussions with the overall company 'Everything Everywhere' as to what this means for VM customers

Remember though to start with it's 2G Voice only. The 3G network sharing probably won't happen until next year, which is more likely when Virgin will be able to start doing it

[AndyCambs]

Originally Posted by JMcB

I'm a orange customer how is this merger going to help me?

My understanding is that this will benefit primarily T-Mobile customers who will get increased coverage on Orange networks

[Dave_M]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

.......Remember though to start with it's 2G Voice only.......

I'd be happy enough just to see the black hole at the back of my house disappear, full signal on Orange & Vodaphone, 1 bar if I'm lucky on Virgin.

As to what it means to Orange customers, by signing up for free cross network roaming your phone will switch between the two networks as necessary so you should see some improvement somewhere however as the weaker of the two T Mobile customers will see the biggest improvement.

It would be good if VM keeps it's customers up to date with developments as potentially we also stand to gain significantly

[m419]

Remember the 3G network used by T-Mobile is 50% owned by Hutchison 3G UK and they can and probably will make life difficult for Everything Everywhere.

Hutchison 3G,Vodafone,O2 and BT have complained about the merger from day 1 worrying about competition.

Everything Everywhere are to sell off some of its spectrum as part of the conditions set out by the European Goverment for competition reasons.

The 3G network will take a long while to merge. There will be 38 Million potential customers going to be using it and that consists of:

T-Mobile (Approx 12 Million customers) (Not Including Virgin Mobile customers)
Orange (Approx 16 Million Customers)
3 (Approx 4 Million Customers)
Virgin Mobile (Approx 3 Million Customers)
Carphone Warehouse (Mobile World,Fresh and Talk Mobile) (Approx 1 Million customers)
International customers roaming in the UK. (Approx 1 Million)

Thats why it will take a long time to organise.

There will be no problem in 3 customers using the 2G service as that is a 'paid for' service paid to Orange by 3, unlike the 3G service which is shared.

The company operating the 3G network for 3,T-Mobile,Virgin and Carphone Warehouse customers is MBNL limited and is a 50/50 joint venture between Hutchison 3G UK and Everything Everywhere(Formerly T-Mobile UK limited)

Orange 3G network is currently strictly for Orange customers only.

The merge is still ongoing and this is how it is set out at the moment

T-Mobile UK limited was renamed to Everything Everywhere limited on 1st July 2010 and is 50/50 joint venture between France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom. Orange Personal Communications Services limited is currently a division of Everything Everywhere limited.

When it comes to Virgin and 3 customers, the free roaming won't be around for a long time.

In fact once the 3G network reaches 99%, 3 will probably stop offering the 2G service.

[Dave_M]

Originally Posted by m419

......When it comes to Virgin and 3 customers, the free roaming won't be around for a long time........

You thinking that will apply to both 2 & 3G services? If so it will leave Virgin & other piggy back operators in a weak position.

[Halcyon]

Merge them all damn it!

[Ben B]

You can now sign up to use the other operators network:
Orange Customers https://kareena.orange.co.uk/share/
T-Mobile Customers http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/share/

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Ben B

You can now sign up to use the other operators network:
Orange Customers https://kareena.orange.co.uk/share/
T-Mobile Customers http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/share/

Nice one I have just signed the missus up.

[scrotnig]

Originally Posted by Ben B

You can now sign up to use the other operators network:
Orange Customers https://kareena.orange.co.uk/share/
T-Mobile Customers http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/share/

All I can get out of that is:

There's been a problem
Our fault - could you try again?

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by scrotnig

All I can get out of that is:

There's been a problem
Our fault - could you try again?

It worked on the wifes phone via the Orange link and we had 3 texts from them in total to say it was now active.

[AndyCambs]

I also had a text message when I first connected to the T-Mobile network as an Orange Customer