BRUSSELS, Belgium-The European Commission approved third-generation (3G) network sharing in the United Kingdom following an investigation that found national roaming between licensed operators benefits consumers because operators can offer better coverage.
In February 2002, T-Mobile and MmO2 asked the commission for clearance to share 3G infrastructure and to roam on their networks in the United Kingdom and Germany. Roaming will not be allowed in the top 10 cities in the United Kingdom but is allowed in small cities and rural areas, the commission said. And roaming in urban areas is allowed through 31 December, 2007.
The commission said the decision sets the parameters for a similar decision expected in respect to German 3G network sharing between T-Mobile and MmO2.
