Orange and T-Mobile networks to merge

Everything Everywhere will be able to decommission duplicated base stations

Everything Everywhere, the company formed by the merger of Orange and T-Mobile, is to offer all customers access to both networks in a bid to improve coverage.

A combined user base of some 30 million customers could benefit from the move when it is completed on 5 October.

However, it is not known how many of these customers will actually see a tangible benefit from having access to both networks. When V3.co.uk contacted Everything Everywhere for clarification on how much crossover there was already between the two mobile operators' networks, they were unable to provide any information on this point.

Business users with Orange or T-Mobile will benefit from the new service straightaway, but those on specialist network set-ups will have to wait for the enhancements, according to the firm.

"At present we are not inviting corporate business customers who use intelligent network services such as virtual private networks to sign up, but the improvements will soon be rolled out to all customers," an Everything Everywhere spokesperson said.

Orange and T-Mobile customers can register for the service free of charge, and Everything Everywhere said that phones will automatically switch to the network with the strongest signal in mid-call. The firm also promised enhanced data and internet coverage.

Pete Cunningham, a senior analyst at Canalys, believes that the move is good for customers and will help Everything Everywhere save money in the long run.

"The pooling of network resources is a logical step. Customers should benefit from better network coverage, and Everything Everywhere will receive cost benefits from decommissioning duplicated base stations," he said.

"The focus will be on maximising cost efficiencies across the two operations, and this is the first step along that path."

Everything Everywhere was formed in May and has outlined plans to help business customers improve productivity by introducing new services and applications over time.