Mobile operators Orange and T-Mobile UK, which last year merged to become Everything Everywhere (EE), have completed the latest "big 3g switch-on" phase of their mobile network evolution plan by allowing customers of both operators to share each other's 3G ( Mobile Broadband ) internet data coverage and services.

The move means that "millions of UK mobile customers will benefit from faster internet and data speeds in more places" and at no extra cost. T-Mobile and Orange already share 2G (voice and text) coverage and their combined 3G coverage is also shared with rival Three (3) as part of the Mobile-Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) joint venture.


The newly combined 3G network will start to be rolled out region by region from next week, although it's unclear how long it will take (i.e. a "few months") before the improvements reach all of Orange and T-Mobile UK's 27 million customers.

A number of unspecified "additional 2G improvements" will also be introduced and these should allow customers to "keep talking in more places". The move will also benefit any of the operator's virtual network customers, such as Virgin Media UK (aka - Virgin Mobile).