Vodafone, Telefonica Agree to Share 5G Network in UK
January 23 2019 - 3:02AM
Dow Jones News
By Adria Calatayud
Vodafone Group PLC (VOD.LN) and Telefonica SA (TEF.MC) have
agreed to strengthen their existing network-sharing partnership in
the U.K. to include 5G, the companies said Wednesday.
The telecommunications companies said this will allow them to
deploy 5G faster, over a larger geographic area and at a lower
cost.
Vodafone and Telefonica's O2 U.K. business will seek to deploy
their own separate radio equipment on around 2,500 sites in larger
cities to achieve greater network flexibility to meet customers'
needs, the companies said.
Both parties plan to upgrade their networks with higher-capacity
optical-fiber cables and are exploring options around their future
transmission operating model, the companies said.
Vodafone and O2 said they intend to explore a potential
monetization of CTIL, the joint venture that owns and manages their
passive tower infrastructure, after the new arrangements have been
concluded.
The companies have signed a non-binding heads of terms, which
remains subject to an agreement on the detailed terms and
regulatory approvals, which they expect to conclude during
2019.
Write to Adria Calatayud at
adria.calatayudvaello@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 23, 2019 02:47 ET (07:47 GMT)
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