Orange / T Mobile merger

[Dave_M]

Now it seems the merger is to go ahead could someone from VM advise when it's likely that the new company will start to share the network infrastructure. Whilst coverage is OK with VM I've a black hole in the rear of my house which doesn't effect my wife who's on Orange

[weesteev]

The contract VM has with Y-Mobile is for network wide access, if T-Mobile adjust there network then access would be granted across its new footprint, this has lways been stated by Virgin as an "exciting proposition".

Unless there will be renegotiating of any contracts then Virgin customers should see the beenfits as soon as the networks merge, bear in mind this may take a few years.

One thing to watch out for is Femto-cells, Vodafone has launched theirs already and no doubt Virgin will launch something as well, this should eradicate dead spots in your house!

[efc85]

allthough things may look good 2 years down the line ,us customer are still waiting for roaming clarification on orange.
As things stand t-mobile and orange customers are to begin roaming onto each others networks from roundabout now.Once this is all set up we could start to see the closure of overlapping cell sites up and down the country.As some of these sites are likely to be t-mobile sites this will directly affect us unless virginmobile can agree the same roaming deal with orange,there will be a lot more dead spots than we are currently used to,hard to imagine i know.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by efc85

As some of these sites are likely to be t-mobile sites this will directly affect us unless virginmobile can agree the same roaming deal with orange,there will be a lot more dead spots than we are currently used to,hard to imagine i know.

I can't see that happening at all.

Also T-Mobile and Orange are trading names only as far as I'm aware. There is a single Limited company behind the brands. So as long as that limited company has agreed to continue with the agreements with Virgin (and there is no reason why they wouldn't) then hopefully the network access will automatically extend to Orange towers at somepoint in the future.

[efc85]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

I can't see that happening at all.

Also T-Mobile and Orange are trading names only as far as I'm aware. There is a single Limited company behind the brands. So as long as that limited company has agreed to continue with the agreements with Virgin (and there is no reason why they wouldn't) then hopefully the network access will automatically extend to Orange towers at somepoint in the future.

Yes they are now trading names under 'evrything ,everywhere' (or something along those lines) but they have created a network roaming set up as the combining of the network infrastructure could take a considerable amount of time and the roaming will stop their customers being inconvinienced during the work.It is vital that virginmobile ensure the same roaming safeguard for their cutomers during the rebuilding of the network.

[Hornet]

Maybe this is why I have suddenly losy my signal after 5 years! See my other post if interested. Thanks

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by efc85

It is vital that virginmobile ensure the same roaming safeguard for their cutomers during the rebuilding of the network.

How do you know that they've not already done so?

[efc85]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

How do you know that they've not already done so?

That is correct,I don't know and considering that i do know about the other two providers but cannot find any info ,or get any response from customer services ,is the reason for concern.
I do hope they have plans as i use my phone for business purposes and the thought of having complete areas of towns with no signal is a worry.I don't want to have to come up with a 'plan b' using O2 or vodaphone just for 12 months or so.

[m419]

Well i've tried roaming across T-Mobile 2G network on Orange and it doesn't work yet, it says No Network access.

I've tried the same vice versa

And i've tried roaming on T-Mobile 2G from my 3 phone and that doesn't work yet either.

[efc85]

Originally Posted by m419

Well i've tried roaming across T-Mobile 2G network on Orange and it doesn't work yet, it says No Network access.

I've tried the same vice versa

And i've tried roaming on T-Mobile 2G from my 3 phone and that doesn't work yet either.

Apparently the PAYG were to begin this month(i've seen 21st mentioned) followed over the next month or two by pay monthly.
A new mast had just been installed close to my home and only spotted it yesterday so slammed my brakes on ,got out and read the sign on it.
ANOTHER DAMN 02.THEY'VE GOT 5 BARS EVERYWHERE IN MY TOWN,THEY EVEN WORK INSIDE HOUSES UNLIKE THE T-MOBILE NETWORK!!! WHICH HAS IMPROVED LITTLE IN TERMS OF RECEIVING OR MAKING A PHONE CALL(THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A PHONE ,STILL...) IN 10 YEARS OR SINCE IT WAS THE ONE2ONE NETWORK.
Less than a mile from a town centre you shouldn't have to hang out of an upstairs window in this day and age.

[Matth]

Is it going to need new sims?

[m419]

No, but you should upgrade you sim every couple of years anyway, certain features aren't available on older sims like 3G services such as Video calling.

And sim cards in phone likes the iphone 4 are completely different sim cards