Ericsson says that the ten thousandth shared site has been activated in the MBNL (Mobile Broadband Network Limited) network owned and occupied by T-Mobile and 3UK, with 12,500 sites set to go live by 10 October 2010. Prior to consolidation, which commenced in February 2009, T-Mobile and 3UK had more than 18,000 2G and 3G sites in total. Ericsson was therefore keen to point out the environmental and opex-saving benefits of its five-year managed services deal, which it claims is the world’s first active network consolidation agreement. MBNL claims to be creating “Europe’s most extensive high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) network.”

The next phase of the project could involve integration with the Orange UK network, following this year’s merger of Orange and T-Mobile’s British operations into Everything Everywhere. Last week the newly created firm announced that customers of the two operators will be able to register to use both networks. From next year, users can look forward to automatic hand-off between networks enabling them to take advantage of whichever is the strongest signal.