[alanwarwic]

I think the argument for private ownership of service industries such as mobile is that they generate better tax revenues this way.

They can disappear via government whim so I guess taxes are less avoided than in other non service industries. Overall I am for 'no change', at least with regards to ownerships.

[d123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUK1

Why not start a new thread for other stuff then? It's incredibly boring reading through peoples posts talking about new cabinets in Skeggy etc.

A good point, I don't think there is a thread quota in this section that precludes actually starting a new thread rather than just discussing a completely different topic.


BT fixed line broadband has nothing whatsoever to do with o2, Three, or the takeover...

[jaffboy151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

I can go with a quality provider with great service and pay more for it, while my neighbour can pay the minimum and go with TalkTalk.

I'd walk over broken glass to be able to become a talk talk customer again, there not great by any stretch but compared to BT they are pure gold, I've despised BTs approach to data communication since the late 90s, they are never a market leader in developing Internet communications, worse then even an also ran, they've had to be dragged along at every stage if the game, only doing the minimum possible they can, I can't believe new housing estates are still wired up with a copper inferstructure, but all that's for another thread, I just do hope EE get most of the 4g program done for they take total control, after which it will be interesting to see there approach to the next generation of tech after 4g. EE like or BT?
Will BT & EE be forced to give up some spectrum to Vodafone, O2 or three if they merge?

[Zebb]

Hutchison may have to sell parts of the combined entity's network capacity and frequencies - or spectrum - to get the green light, and is prepared to do so, the sources said.

Info link

[japaul]

A Reuters 'exclusive' nonstory.

Nobody seriously believes the deal could be cleared on a phase 1 and as I said above, the Oct 16 deadline is just a technicality and it will proceed to a phase 2.

As for

'Hutchison may have to sell parts of the combined entity's network capacity and frequencies - or spectrum - to get the green light, and is prepared to do so, the sources said'

then yes. They may have to which is just stating the obvious.

[Everything Goes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebb

Hutchison may have to sell parts of the combined entity's network capacity and frequencies - or spectrum - to get the green light, and is prepared to do so, the sources said.

Info link

The OP's ridiculous title looks even more ridiculous That aside im not surprised that the EU are giving it additional scrutiny.

[Thine Wonk]

More likely they'll let giffgaff and Tesco mobile go and agree to support MVNO deals to encourage competition.

[japaul]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Everything Goes

The OP's ridiculous title looks even more ridiculous

It'll (probably) look visionary one day.

[enapace]

If they have to give up spectrum it puts them in even worse place then they are already and just gives Vodafone and EE more of an advantage.

[jonmorris]

They could give up O2's 2G network... That would be worth £50 or so.

[Gigabit]

Please don't give up the 2G network. In a lot of situations it's a Godsend.

[DevonBloke]

They'll need the 2G to get the 4G 1800 up to a higher power...

EDIT: In fact with 2G 900 they'll be able to get 4G1800 up to full power, unlike EE where it will always be slightly lower than 2G1800.

[Zebb]

Makes you wonder if H3G's recent business practices has had any effect on this decision. Maybe the authorities don't trust them with more power?

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebb

Makes you wonder if H3G's recent business practices has had any effect on this decision. Maybe the authorities don't trust them with more power?

What practices? are you on the wind up? If you're going on about ending plans on end of the minimum term again then the networks are permitted to do that. You can't force a company to keep providing the same plans forever if they choose to end old unlimited data and unlimited tethering plans in the face of data usage rocketing and impacting network quality for the other 90% of the customer base..

They told another EU company that wanted to merge with another network for concessions in order to approve, it has been almost guaranteed from the start that there would be some negotiation, this article tells us absolutely nothing we didn't already know as posted above.

[clewsy]

The real question is can they afford to give up spectrum when they have all these customers?

Those 3 masts will be grinding to a hault with the extra o2 customers and similar will be happening on a lot of the o2 sites.

I think we just need to wait and see what happens. I suspect all outcomes are possible.

[jonmorris]

O2 only has 14 smartphone users so I'm sure it won't be too bad.

[Gigabit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonmorris

O2 only has 14 smartphone users so I'm sure it won't be too bad.

That includes Tesco Mobile customers.

O2 itself has only one smartphone customer and that's wavejock.

[Zee_Bukhari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabit

That includes Tesco Mobile customers.

O2 itself has only one smartphone customer and that's wavejock.

I think Three will need all the spectrum they can get with so many customers. EE still have too much spectrum and Vodafone also have a lot.

Making Three give up spectrum will make things worse for them, but no matter what anyone else says they defo won't agree to give up o2's 2g network and I'd the deal does go through I do t think they will be allowing any o2 customers at first onto their 3g or 4g networks. Seems more likely Three customers will get access to o2's 2g first.

[Gigabit]

I would love to see a 4G network with the same coverage as O2's 2G network, with the priorities setup so you could actually use it.

[jonmorris]

Nice to see O2 refarming its 1800 for 4G. But O2 may have all that lovely 2G that will benefit Three users, but it needs major upgrading to be usable for data.

[clewsy]

Come on there is no logic used here by phone companies so you can rest assured 3 will just flick a switch and tell all its new lovely customers they now have 2g,3g and 4g coverage ..of course usable , probably not.

Oh and then all of this new perk will suddenly be followed by a price hike!

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clewsy

Come on there is no logic used here by phone companies so you can rest assured 3 will just flick a switch and tell all its new lovely customers they now have 2g,3g and 4g coverage ..of course usable , probably not.

Oh and then all of this new perk will suddenly be followed by a price hike!

You seem to be in a permanent state of negativity.

[Gigabit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

You seem to be in a permanent state of negativity.

He is wavejock reincarnate.

I have a theory that wavejock has several accounts.

[Thine Wonk]

I wasn't suggesting he was Wavejock, just that with a £500M investment in 4G, massive network upgrades, VoLTE, traditional revenue declining, calls and data that used to cost extra being included etc that there are likely to be price changes and the need to move on in the future. Realistically prices haven't changed that much in 5 years, but the amount offered has gone up, speeds have increased, capacity has increased, usability at home and abroad has got better.

Nothing stays the same forever, I just don't see the need for constant whining about decisions made and announced a year ago, we kind of need to move on.

[clewsy]

I don't even know who wavejock is?

I'm not saying anything about the past, I'm commenting on what I expect will happen. That's business logic, you are going to offer more and then charge for it. Adding value is the marketing term so I believe.