Orange 3G-peasy dream seems shattered

[m419]

The reason for O2 being the smallest is because of the overnight transformation it recieved in 2001/2.

In December 2001,BT Cellnet,Genie and BT Mobile operations in Germany,Holland and Ireland demerged away from the BT Group and formed 'MMO2 Group', Because they were new,they didnt have that much revenue,they also had little time to compete with Hutchison 3G as Hutchison planned to launch there service in 2002. MMO2 sold off O2 Holland to cover some of the 3G costs. In 2005/6 MMO2 became O2 plc and was eventually taken over by Telefonica who are expanding the O2 brand to there original operations including its Spanish operations, there is now much more hope that O2 3G will get better now that it has better funding.

BT only got rid of it because they knew what 3G would be like, BT where also rolling out Broadband and where behind the Cable companies,so BT needed funding to roll out Broadband and catch up with NTL,Telewest and Smallworld.

And lastly, 3G technology was also orginally set up for better mobile internet not just video calling!

[lauzjp]

what's that new network thingamajiggy that's being tested right now? something or the other to do with the government?

[m419]

Not too sure but ofcom wants the 3G networks to merge.

T-Mobile 3G is to merge with Hutchison 3G
Vodafone 3G is to merge with Orange 3G

That is to increase 3G coverage rapidly,each of the above networks with the exception of Hutchison 3G will have there own 2G networks,but a merged network would offer more coverage. Each network would have its own customer base as usual.

So that means T-Mobile,3 and Virgin Mobile customers will get 100% good quality coverage whilst Orange and Vodafone users will get around 95% coverage.

[lauzjp]

Originally Posted by m419

Not too sure but ofcom wants the 3G networks to merge.

<snip> So that means T-Mobile,3 and Virgin Mobile customers will get 100% good quality coverage whilst Orange and Vodafone users will get around 95% coverage.

excellent idea, am so fed up of downloading video only to find it all pixelated and rubbish

[m419]

I tend to only use You Tube on my mobile or any videos or downloads when i'm under 3G coverage, the 2.5G coverage is slow!!!

[DRZ400]

Using your phone to make UMTS call drains the battery significantly quicker than if you have it set to GSM, You'll also get more dropped calls.

[lauzjp]

Originally Posted by DRZ400

Using your phone to make UMTS call drains the battery significantly quicker than if you have it set to GSM, You'll also get more dropped calls.

*whispers* what's a UMTS?

[DRZ400]

3G .... the frequency used is higher thus the signals don't go as far and therefore needs to suck more power transmit the same distance as the 2G and 3G cabinets are 99% of the time co-located.