Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL), the 3G network sharing joint-venture between UK mobile operators T-Mobile and 3, has awarded its supplier Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) a new contract worth over £400 million (US$617 million). The deal includes the provision of 3G radio network infrastructure, mobile network planning, implementation, optimisation and maintenance. NSN said the provision of equipment and services is already underway. “Smartphone and mobile laptop data traffic growth in the UK has been unprecedented, and every sign is it will continue growing fast,” noted Graham Payne, managing director of MBNL. “With Nokia Siemens Networks, we are confident of providing the UK’s most smartphone friendly, high-speed 3G network to more people in the UK than any other operator, delivering exceptional services to both T-Mobile UK and 3 UK subscribers.” A statement from NSN added that both T-Mobile UK and 3 UK have experienced very high growth in mobile data and Internet usage, resulting in the MBNL network carrying by far the highest volume of data traffic of all networks deployed by the network supplier globally. 

The national HSPA network currently covers over 90 percent of outdoor population in the UK and is on course to cover more than 98 percent by the end of 2010. When completed, it will be Europe’s largest shared network. MBNL has already consolidated more than 7,000 sites out of a total of over 12,500 T-Mobile UK and 3 UK mast sites due to be brought together by October this year. When completed, the integration program will also mean more than 3,000 redundant sites will have been switched off. MBNL was set up in December 2007 with the aim of creating the UK’s best 3G network more rapidly and more efficiently than either party could do alone. In November 2008 Ericsson won a four-year managed services contract for the operation and maintenance of the consolidated network.