UPD T-Mobile and Orange UK Boost Mobile Broadband via Smart Signal Sharing

Mobile group Everything Everywhere (Orange UK and T-Mobile) has today launched its new Smart Signal Sharing technology, which means that if a customer’s Mobile Broadband connectivity begins to fade (e.g. down to one bar of signal) then it will seamlessly prioritise a 3G signal from the other network instead.

The development is said to mark the final stage of EE’s “big switch-on“, which is a reference to the integration of the two merged mobile operators and their joint £1.5bn investment to boost the networks 3G performance and ready it for future “4G” superfast services.

Olaf Swantee, CEO of Everything Everywhere, said:

“Smart Signal Sharing marks the completion of the Orange and T-Mobile signal integration project, which provides our 27.5 million customers with the widest 2G and 3G coverage available in Britain today. The launch is yet another proofpoint to our commitment to provide our customers with the best network in the UK – now and in the future.

Our continued investment into the network, including the launch of 50% faster 3G speeds through HSPA+, allows our customers to access the internet, social networks or download emails faster in more places than ever before.”

Everything Everywhere also noted that its latest HSPA+ (21Mbps) network upgrade, which some like to call 3.5G but it’s still technically 3G, can now reach “95% of the UK population“. In reality you should take claims like that with a huge pinch of salt as mobile operators are known to for their exaggerated coverage claims, which don’t usually reflect consumer experience for the rest of us.

UPDATE 12:39pm

As a side note Ofcom has just issued an update on their consultation to open the 1800MHz (urban 3G) band for use by superfast “4G” Mobile Broadband services, which could allow EE to launch related services before the end of 2012; at least one year ahead of their rivals.

Ofcoms Statement – 23rd May 2012

Ofcom’s consultation on Everything Everywhere’s application to vary its 1800 MHz spectrum licences to allow use of LTE and WiMAX technologies closed on 8 May 2012. The consultation responses raise a number of detailed issues that Ofcom must now consider carefully. We will publish a statement on the proposed variation as early as possible.

Readers can check out some of the hotly controversial responses to this consultation here. Clearly Ofcom will find it a lot harder to push their recommendation through, with most rival operators opposing it, than they first hoped.