3 UK Switches 2G Roaming Contract
Hutchison 3G UK has swapped its existing GSM roaming agreement in the UK with O2 for rival operator, Orange. The new agreement follows the completion of an auction for 3's national roaming business. Hutch says that Orange tendered the most competitive bid for the supply of voice, text and data services and has been selected as the preferred national roaming provider for 3 from the end of 2006.
The 3 network provides coverage for voice, text and 3G mobile media services to 88% of the UK population and the new agreement with Orange, which has 99% coverage for voice and text services, will ensure 3 customers continue to enjoy national coverage.
3 customers will continue to roam on O2, the current provider of national roaming to 3, until the transition phase commences in late 2006. Following the transition phase existing customers' handsets will select the Orange network in preference to O2, although they will still be able to roam onto O2. Going forward into 2007 all new customers will only roam onto the Orange network.
Bob Fuller, CEO 3 UK said: "Following a thorough and competitive process over the last eighteen months, I'm very pleased to announce that 3 has a new national roaming partner in the UK. It was important we had a competitive tender and I am delighted with the outcome of the process. This is a good agreement for both 3 and Orange and will ensure that we continue to offer a great service to our customers."
Bernard Ghillebaert, Executive Vice-President of Orange UK said: "The Orange network is renowned as one of the most robust and reliable networks in the UK and it makes commercial sense for us to utilise this asset within the wholesale market. We will continue to offer the highest levels of network reliability and service to all of our 15million customers and look forward to a fruitful relationship with 3."
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed."
Posted to the site on 11th May 2006