3G network integration project in the UK gets a new partner

Arqiva have been selected as the strategic partner for the provision of cellsites for the Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL), which is a joint venture formed by 3 UK and T-Mobile UK to both create and manage what will be the most extensive 3G network in the UK.

The MBNL will be given 5100 new sites from Arqiva and a further 2500 sites will have exclusive marketing rights for site sharing services by Arqiva.

In order to fulfill an objective of creating the most extensive 3G network by 2010, which provides complete coverage of the population throughout the country, an infrastructure consolidation agreement was entered into on January 2008 by 3 UK and T-Mobile UK. As a result of better quality of in-building reception and an improvement of coverage nationwide the uptake of 3G services will be set to rise dramatically from the pioneering network consolidation model. A joint saving of £2 billion over the next ten years is expected to be generated by the decommissioning of around 5000 sites, the lowering of operational costs that jointly maintaining and managing a shared network will achieve and a drop capital investment made in infrastructure.

The managing director of MBNL, Graham Payne said “This is a substantial contract for MBNL and the most significant in terms of provision of sites for the integrated network. The Arqiva team has given us a lot of confidence in its ability to quickly deliver the sites and upgrades as the pace of network consolidation rapidly increases over the course of 2009. We are delighted to have Arqiva as our strategic partner and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship.”

The managing director of Arqiva’s Wireless access division, John Cronin said “We are very pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with T-Mobile and 3 UK and to be playing such a significant role in this groundbreaking project.”