United Kingdom - Mobile - Network and Operator Overview

Synopsis

The UK has one of the largest and most advanced mobile markets in Europe, serviced by five major service providers and a number of MVNOs. 3G licences were issued in 2000 at the height of the dot com boom, which generated over £22 billion for the government but shackled the licensees with enormous debt, and the public with delays and poor service. Mobile penetration at the beginning of 2005 is above 100%, and continues to grow at about 13%, while the number of mobile-only households is steadily increasing. The first 3G service was launched in March 2003, and two other services followed in late 2004.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Mobile technologies
  • 2.1 Analogue
  • 2.2 Digital
  • 2.3 Third generation
    • 2.3.1 Licensing
    • 2.3.2 Network sharing
    • 2.3.3 Withdrawals, revisions and write downs
    • 2.3.4 First 3G service launched
    • 2.3.5 Handset availability
    • 2.3.6 Solving the Handset Dilemma – The Vodafone Solution
    • 2.3.7 Overcoming public indifference
    • 2.3.8 Key issues remaining
  • 2.4 Handsets
    • 2.4.1 SIM locking
• 3. Major mobile operators
  • 3.1 Operator market shares
  • 3.2 O2
  • 3.3 Vodafone
  • 3.4 Orange
  • 3.5 T-Mobile
  • 3.6 3 UK
  • 3.7 MVNOs
    • 3.7.1 Virgin Mobile
    • 3.7.2 Carphone Warehouse
    • 3.7.3 Mobile Sense (BT and mmO2)
    • 3.7.4 BT back in the mobile market
    • 3.7.5 BT links up with Vodafone
• 4. Related reports

• Table 1 – 3G licence results – April 2000
• Table 2 – Mobile market share by operator – March 2005

• Exhibit 1 – 3G infrastructure suppliers
• Exhibit 2 – 3G network sharing agreements