EC Approves Some Network Sharing for 3G Licensees

The European Commission approved 3G mobile network infrastructure sharing in the UK, ruling that site sharing in itself does not raise competition concerns. More specifically, 3G site sharing between operators does not restrict competition if such agreements are limited to sharing basic network infrastructure such as masts, power supply, racking and cooling. The EC investigation into the infrastructure sharing also found that national roaming between licensed network operators benefits consumers by allowing the operators involved to offer better and quicker coverage, especially in less built-up and more remote areas. Roaming will not include the top ten cities in the UK and is limited to smaller cities and rural areas. National roaming in smaller cities can benefit from an exemption form the antitrust rules until 31-December-2007. For rural areas the exemption expires on 31-December-2008. The case arose following an infrastructure sharing agreement between T-Mobile and mmO2.http://europa.eu.int