The European Commission decided to approve 3G mobile network sharing in Germany, paving the way for national roaming between licensed network operators. T-Mobile and mmO2 entered into agreements to share 3G site infrastructure (‘site sharing’) and to roam on their 3G networks in the UK and Germany. In February 2002, the parties asked the EC for clearance or, alternatively, an exemption of their agreements under the antitrust rules.http://europa.eu.int
- In April 2003, 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.