Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“3 currently do and will continue to share 3G coverage with T-mobile, meaning 3 and T-mobile's coverage is shared. Soon Orange will decommission the majority their 3G infrastructure and 3 / T-mobile masts will allow access to Orange users. Orange will keep around 3,000 3G masts just for them, for capacity reasons.”
They share the mast... Nothing else!
Backhaul/Bandwidth is not shared...
Because you can get the same signal on T-Mobile and 3 because it's the same mast, does not mean T-Mobile and 3 will give you the same speed or quality.
Talking about coverage, I get a better 3G signal from T-Mobile than 3 as it's been higher on the mast than 3's lower down!