Everything Everywhere.
 

With this merger between T mobile and Orange, I believe those of us on the Virgin network will be able to use both transmitters and therefore get a better signal (hopefully). On the T mobile web site in the FAQs it says the following:

How do I get to use the Orange network in the UK?

It’s really easy to sign up; just visit this page for more info. www.t-mobile.co.uk/signal. Once you’ve signed up, we’ll tell you about any potential quirks with your phone. When you’re happy to proceed, we’ll send updated settings to your phone and SIM card. In no time, you’ll be using Orange’s signal to call and text in more places.


I'm thinking about joining T-Mobile. When will I be able to use the Orange network?
From 1 February 2011, all new T-Mobile customers will automatically get signal from T-Mobile and Orange. If you joined T-Mobile before 1 February and haven’t got signal from Orange yet, you can sign up here.


So, two questions then, are we going to have to "sign up" to use the service, or will VM do it automatically for us and secondly, if this all kicked off in February, why are we not already up and running with it?

Thanks.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Mainly because it's currently 2G only, and Orange and T-Mobile have only just worked out how to do it automatically themselves. For Virgin to do it, they've then got to make sure it works correctly with their systems.

Virgin are going to do it later this year, probably around the same time as the 3G signal gets shared

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Thanks Ben, any rough idea when it will happen this year, I won't hold you to it.;)

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

http://www.virginmediapeople.com/pri...e/default.aspx

But from this summer, we’ll use the Everything Everywhere network (the company formed by Orange and T-Mobile). So in some areas where the coverage would otherwise dip, you’ll automatically be able to use either the T-Mobile or the Orange network at the same great Virgin Mobile rates. You're covered.

So no confirmed date yet

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

"Coming Soon"

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

This will be a major benefit for me as the Orange signal is quite good where I work but the T Mobile signal is non-existent.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

I've been following this closely ... Have been interested in Virgin Mobile for years, but the poor T Mobile signal where I live has always been the deal breaker.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Only thing you might have to look out for is in some areas where there are transmitters from both companies they are turning one of them off.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

That has caused problems for some Virgin Mobile customers recently but is a temporary issue. Once the two networks are made into one there should be a generally improved level of coverage for Virgin users.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Hi Chris,

I'm sure it will and look forward to it. What I should have said is that BenJSmyth had better hope they turn the T Mobile transmitter off at his work location if it happens to one of them.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

I was told September by VM customer services, guess we'll have to wait & see.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Has anyone heard any more news on this lately?

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

VM are about to commence a 2 month Beta trial with staff accounts and all being well this will be rolled out to Consumers in September !

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

That is brilliant news!

The sooner the better for me as the T-Mobile signal at my work is literally non-existent. If they need any customers as beta trialists...... :angel:

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Timeline ties in with what I was told a couple of months back by customer services. Where you get the info from btw?

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Per http://www.virginmediapeople.com/changes/JV15/

Bigger, Better Coverage
Virgin Mobile customers enjoy coverage here, there and just about everywhere. We’ve always used the T-Mobile network, which covers over 99% of the UK population, to provide our service. But from this Autumn, we’ll use the Everything Everywhere network (the company formed by Orange and T-Mobile). So, in some areas where the coverage might otherwise dip, you’ll automatically be able to use the Everything Everywhere network at the same great Virgin Mobile rates. Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered.


My highlighting

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Wish they would get it sorted sooner, the VM Signal here of late has been appalling, niver used to have a problem, but now we struggle to get up to 3 bars on any of the 3 phones we have in the house.

Also the Virgin Mobile "Team" have failed to respond to any of my e-mails on the subject of falling signal levels.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

EE are rationalising the network by switching off either the Orange mast or the T-mobile mast in places where they are duplicated. It's not affecting Orange and T-m customers because they have been able to roam on each others networks for months now. But for virtual network users it has been quite a problem in certain places. It sounds like you're one of the many victims of mast shutdown.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Good :) about time too

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

All correct, except for the bit about duplicate sites being removed. I'm yet to see anyone provide concrete examples of this. I'm sure network planners on both sides of the EE fence are looking at what the combined network will be like, but very much doubt it's gone beyond that.

Remember we don't have incall handover yet, so the 2 networks are still operating and being maintained independently.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Virgin disagrees with you.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Standard marketing reply to cover all bases then. Means nothing operationally. They also use the word "may" not "will".

Seriously: If Orange & T-Mobile were removing sites across their respective networks "en masse" in advance of incall handover, would dropped call rates and complaints to both networks not be dramatically increasing? Why is Virgin the only MVNO on Orange/T-Mobile claiming this? There are several other VNOs using one of the two networks.

I am not doubting there may be isolated individual examples of sites being decommissioned due to legal/rent issues and maybe not being replaced immediately, but then this has been happening for years and is part & parcel of estates management for the big UK networks. Virgin seem to be suggesting that some of these cases are directly linked to the network consolidation. It is that, that I'm suggesting is nonsense.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

so from autumn will i be able to recieve an EDGE signal from orange on my virgin handset ? ? i'm really looking forward to virgin joining EE , i find virgin / t mobile network coverage appauling . there is no way it covers 99% of the country.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

I just think the coverage is poor inside of buildings with Virgin. For example I get a signal no problem outside of our house but inside its a poor signal. I get an excellent signal in rural northumberland too when we visit there but again inside the house there its poor.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Virgin media piggyback on T-mobile signal. I'm on t-mobile and the signal in my area is immaculate I never get less then half no matter where I am, and if the signal ever drops out it'll flick over to orange (rarely)

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

It's 99% of the population, not 99% of the country.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

This does not apply to 3G services or future 4G services, the T-Mobile 3G network was merged with Hutchison 3G's (3 mobile) and the infrastructure is called MBNL, Orange customers do not have access to it and instead Orange 3G has its own infrastructure which is smaller, Virgin Mobile customers won't be able to use that, so if you're thinking of using the Orange 3G signal then you will find that it will say no access or not allowed.

4G services will probably be leased from a completely different company, a company called UK Broadband has already approached Virgin Mobile about this.

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

Any idea of dates? Virgin originally said from the summer but that has since changed to from the autumn

Re: Everything Everywhere.
 

I think you will find it will be down to Orange and T mobile. If they are not ready then Virgin will be late.