Hutch UK Claims 90% 3G Coverage

Hutchison 3G UK says that it now has 90% population coverage for its 3G services in the UK. 3 launched in the UK on 03/03/2003. Working in partnership with Ericsson under their managed services agreement, 3 has undertaken one of the fastest network rollouts in European telecoms history. 3 and Ericsson have now integrated over 7,250 radio sites into the network ensuring that all the major towns and cities in the UK have 3G coverage.

Hitting 90% population coverage for 3G is another significant milestone in the successful managed services partnership announced in December 2005 between 3 and Ericsson in the UK. Under the agreement 3 retains ownership of the network and IT assets, as well as responsibility for the strategic direction of the network and IT infrastructure; Ericsson is responsible for the management, operation and performance of that network and IT infrastructure.

3 and Ericsson are enabling HSDPA across the network.

David Cooper, CTO, 3 UK said "We have the best network coverage in the UK. This means more people in the UK can access our high-speed mobile media and entertainment services than with any other network. Today is also an opportunity to celebrate the completion of our first year working in partnership with Ericsson. When we announced our managed services partnership at the end of 2005 we were the first network to take this innovative step. Over the last year we've proved a managed services partnership on that scale not only works, but delivers the best service both for 3 and our customers."

In May 2006 3 announced it had entered into a new national roaming agreement in the UK. The 3 network provides coverage for voice, text and 3G mobile media services to 90% of the UK population and with the national roaming agreement, which has 99% coverage for voice and text services, 3 ensures customers enjoy national coverage for calls and texts."

Posted to the site on 6th February 2007