BRUSSELS, Belgium-The European Union Commission ruled European wireless operators could share the cost of building out third-generation networks including the cost of base stations, antennas and radio-access networks. The move is expected to ease some financial pressure from operators who spent more than $100 billion on 3G licenses.
“Such cooperation deals can bring benefits for the consumer in terms of a faster introduction of new services, more competition and a lesser impact to the environment,” said Mario Monti, the E.U.’s competition commissioner.
Carriers have said network sharing could save about 30 percent on infrastructure investment costs. The ruling is expected to clear the way for Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile division and BT Group plc’s MmO2 plc to move ahead with the previously announced plan to share 3G infrastructure in the United Kingdom and Germany.
