via Mobile Enterainment


The deal, first hinted at back in September, will see 3 and T-Mobile share 13,000 mast sites for 98 per cent coverage, according to the FT.

Both companies have stressed that the agreement does not pave the way for a merger, as had been speculated by analysts a few months ago.

By sharing HSDPA infrastructure, however, the two operators hope to save a combined £2 billion over ten years.

Vodafone and Orange are working towards a similar agreement. However unlike those two (and O2), T-Mobile and 3 do not offer fixed line broadband services, making their HSDPA deployments all the more important.