Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
In a subtle but interesting development, ISPreview has spotted that mobile operators Vodafone and Three UK have launched a new website – VodafoneThree – that sets out their plans ahead of the official completion of their c.£16bn mega-merger. This replaces their previous site (i.e. vodafoneandthree.uk has been retired in favour of vodafonethree.com).
Just to recap. The deal will see Vodafone retain a 51% slice of the business and CK Hutchison (Three UK) hold 49%. Both operators have previously promoted the deal as being “great for customers, great for the country and great for competition,” while also promoting a major £11bn investment to upgrade the UK’s 5G mobile (broadband) infrastructure and coverage.
The new website largely reiterates their prior commitments, albeit now re-packaged around the singular ‘VodafoneThree‘ branding. But the language of the website also indicates that the announcement of their final deal completion must be imminent, possibly even occurring this week. For example, there’s this extract:
Tomorrow starts today
Better yet, customers don’t have to wait to feel the benefits. Within just six months, around 27 million Vodafone and Three customers will automatically be using each other’s networks – connecting them to the best coverage available, at no extra cost.
Meanwhile, the UK’s largest full-fibre footprint will be further supported by Fixed Wireless Access offers and site upgrades. All of which means a faster, more reliable service for every single customer, without having to lift a finger.
But we did notice the odd slight error or contradiction. For example, at the bottom of the front page of the new website it states that they’ll be “#1 for network … with full, nationwide 5G Standalone coverage by 2032“, which contradicts the 2034 date given elsewhere on the same site for achieving this (probably a typo).
However, it’s worth remembering that the hard part, which involves integrating teams, networks and offices (it’s also unclear what will happen to the ‘Three’ brand long-term) – as well as launching new products, often takes several years to be fully realised. Just ask BT and EE or O2 and Virgin Media, although they also had the complexity of fixed line networks to consider.
UPDATE 8:44am
Well that didn’t take long, the official announcement of merger completion dropped into our inbox right as we posted this article. We’ve covered that here.