Network Sharing RethinkNetwork Sharing Rethink

12:25 PM -- Vodafone UK and Orange UK officially announced a new network sharing strategy today, scrapping plans for a joint venture to operate its shared radio access network (RAN) infrastructure. (See Vodafone, Orange Revamp Network Share Deal, Vodafone & Orange Share 3G, and Vodafone, Orange to Share RANs.)

The operators said today that they will start to share existing 2G and 3G mast sites this year. They expect to reduce the number of mast sites used between them by 15 percent, which is almost 3,000, in the first two years.

The operators' original plans had far grander intentions than simply sharing sites. Check out our article here for more on why today's announcement marks a big strategy shift.

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Unstrung