Orange has struck a lucrative deal to become the new national roaming partner for the 3 mobile phone network.
O2 were also in the running for the partnership but it is understood Orange made an offer that O2 couldn’t match. Under the new deal Orange will provide a back-up GSM service for any 3 customers who venture out of the 3G network coverage.
Orange’s head of media relations, Stuart Jackson, said that his network was looking forward to a “significant and profitable revenue stream”.
3 have been keen to point out that they are continuing to increase their own network but understand the need to customers to have a reliable back-up network as well.
Previously O2 has provided the GSM back-up in a deal worth £100m since 2003. Since 3 have expanded their network over the last few years the latest deal will be worth substantially less.
